NICL AO Scale-I 2026-27 Syllabus: Phase-I, Mains and 80:20
Phase-I 100 marks in 60 minutes. Phase-II 250-mark objective plus 30-mark qualifying descriptive English. Final merit 80:20 mains to interview. One-fourth negative marking.
Phase-I is English 30, Reasoning 35, Quant 35, each 20 minutes, on 17 November 2026. Phase-II is 22 December 2026. Dates, vacancies and the bond are on the recruitment page.
Phase-I
Preliminary Examination is online, 100 marks, 60 minutes, three separately timed sections. It applies to all disciplines.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes | English |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | English / Hindi |
You must qualify each section. The company shortlists about 15 times the vacancies (subject to availability) for the Main Examination. Phase-I date: 17 November 2026.
Phase-II
Main Examination: 250-mark objective test (3 hours, separately timed sections) plus descriptive English, 30 minutes, 30 marks (essay 10, precis 10, comprehension 10), typed on the computer immediately after the objective paper. Date: 22 December 2026.
Generalists (five sections):
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 min |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 30 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 min |
| English Language | 50 | 50 | 40 min |
| Computer Knowledge | 50 | 50 | 30 min |
Specialists (six sections): Reasoning, GA, Quant, English and Computer are 40 marks each (times 35, 20, 35, 30, 25 minutes). The sixth paper is technical and professional knowledge in the relevant discipline, 50 questions, 50 marks, 35 minutes.
Descriptive English is qualifying. It is in English only. Objective English is also English-only; other objective sections are bilingual. One-fourth negative marking on objective questions in both phases. Reporting time on the call letter is earlier than the 60-minute (Phase-I) or 210-minute (Phase-II) test. Biometric thumb, iris and photograph are captured at Phase-II.
The company may change the structure on its website. This page does not invent a topic-wise book list beyond those section names.
Interview and merit
Interview for candidates shortlisted on Phase-II. Final score = 80 percent Main objective + 20 percent interview. Descriptive marks stay out. Tie: higher interview marks, then older candidate. A wait list of up to 50 percent of vacancies may be used if offers are declined.
Call-letter ID must match the photo ID exactly. Ration card and learner's driving licence are not valid ID. Result of the qualifying degree must be published on or before 1 October 2026.
Practice on the printed rules is on the practice page.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is qualifying. Scripts are evaluated only if you clear the objective sectional cut-offs, and those 30 marks are not added for interview shortlisting or final selection.
Yes, on objective tests in both phases: one-fourth of the marks for that question. Unanswered questions have no penalty. English Language is not bilingual.
80:20 on the Phase-II objective score and the interview. You also need a company-decided interview qualifying mark.
Keshav founded StudentUpdate.in and edits every recruitment notice, syllabus page and practice set the site publishes. Each notice is read from the issuing body's PDF or portal before it goes live; dates, fees, vacancy tables and eligibility rules are copied from that document, not from other websites.