NIOS recorded 9,302 applications marked unpaid for its six-month Certificate (Bridge) Course in Primary Teacher Education in its state-wise report at 6:58 pm on October 22, 2026. That was 12.1% of the 76,860 registered applications. Eligible teachers have until October 28 to register under the reopened window.

The NIOS notification dated October 19 reopened registration from October 21 to October 28 after requests from stakeholders, including government teachers. It says there will be no further extension beyond October 28.

What the NIOS payment figures show

The official state-wise admission report separates paid and unpaid applications. The figures below are a snapshot of the report's October 22, 6:58 pm update; the live totals can change.

The unpaid share is calculated as 9,302 divided by 76,860, multiplied by 100 and rounded to one decimal place. It describes applications already recorded on the portal. The report does not give the total number of teachers eligible for the course, so this percentage cannot measure how many eligible teachers have yet to register.

Uttar Pradesh had the largest number of unpaid applications, followed by Maharashtra and Punjab. These are counts, not a ranking of states by their payment-completion rate.

The report gives no reason for an unpaid status. It cannot establish whether an applicant has just started a form, is waiting for a payment update or has decided against proceeding. Nor does it establish a link between the unpaid total and NIOS's decision to reopen registration.

Payment and admission approval are separate steps

NIOS's admission process requires the teacher to submit an application, the school principal to verify the details and the State Nodal Officer to provide final confirmation. A payment record therefore does not, by itself, establish that admission has been approved.

Teachers who have already paid should check their own application status and any document request. The national unpaid count alone says nothing about an individual teacher's eligibility or approval.

Who can apply, and what does it cost?

The NIOS admission rules cover in-service primary teachers appointed on the basis of B.Ed. as a valid qualification between June 28, 2018 and August 11, 2023. Teachers outside that period who have received court-granted relaxation must use Court Order Registration.

NIOS says these teachers must complete the course within the period set by the relevant educational authorities to retain eligibility; failure will invalidate their appointment. The certificate is not valid for subsequent employment as a primary teacher. October 28 is the registration deadline, not a course-completion deadline.

The one-time, non-refundable registration and admission fee is Rs 25,000, including the first-session exam fee. Each online transaction costs another Rs 70. Supplementary exams cost Rs 600 per theory subject and Rs 250 per practical subject.

Applicants need a recent colour photograph, signature, B.Ed. marksheet or certificate, appointment letter and a self-declaration certified by the school principal.