COMPEX Scholarship FAQs
Find answers to common questions about the COMPEX application process, eligibility, and benefits.
COMPEX is the one Embassy of India, Kathmandu scheme where an exam decides who moves forward, which is why questions about it range from eligibility percentages and the three-step online form to the exam day itself. These answers are based on the information we hold for the 2026-27 cycle. Rules, fees and dates are set by the Embassy each year, so treat its current notice as final.
COMPEX (Competitive Examination) is a scholarship scheme run by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, that gives Nepali students the opportunity to study undergraduate courses in India through a qualifying/competitive Computer Based Test (CBT).
The examination is conducted by the Education Wing of the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, and candidates apply through the official website www.indembkathmandu.gov.in.
You can apply for BE/B.Tech, B.Sc. (Agriculture), B.Sc. (Food Technology), B.Sc. (Nursing), and B. Pharmacy.
Yes, but a candidate can apply for a maximum of two courses only, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for each.
You need at least 60% marks in aggregate, 50% in English, and at least 60% in each of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in Class XII (or the equivalent 10+2 CBSE standard).
You need at least 60% marks in aggregate, 50% in English, and at least 55% in each of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in Class XII (or the equivalent 10+2 CBSE standard).
No. Only Class XII (10+2) marks are considered; Class XI marks are not included.
The minimum age to apply is 16 years and the maximum age is 23 years, calculated as of the cutoff date specified in that year's official notification.
Yes. Candidates appearing in the 10+2/Class XII examination may apply in anticipation of their results, but a certificate from the school Principal confirming they are appearing for the exam must be uploaded, and the results must be submitted later.
Applications are submitted online in three steps: Step 1 (Registration), Step 2 (Filling and submitting the application), and Step 3 (Filling in bank challan details and uploading the scanned challan).
After registering with your name, mobile number, and email ID, you will receive a Login ID and Password on your registered email, which you use to proceed to Step 2.
No. Once the application is submitted in Step 2, no changes or edits are allowed. Corrections can only be made through the Preview option before final submission.
The application fee is NPR 400, payable at any branch of Nepal SBI Bank using the bank challan generated after Step 2.
No. Once deposited, the application fee is not refunded or adjusted under any circumstances.
If your payment isn't reflected 48 hours after depositing the fee, you should fill out the Grievance Redressal form with your details and email it, along with a scanned copy of the paid challan, to the official COMPEX helpdesk email.
Candidates have to choose up to four institutes, in order of preference, from the list provided in the online application form. This preference order cannot be changed once submitted.
The exam typically covers English, Physics, and Chemistry (EPC) as a combined paper, along with separate papers in Mathematics and/or Biology, depending on the course applied for.
The Computer Based Test is generally held in Kathmandu at designated exam centers announced by the Embassy.
Admit cards are released online, typically 3-5 days before the exam date, and the download link is sent to the registered email address of eligible candidates.
You must carry a printout of the e-Admit Card along with an original ID proof (Passport or Nepal Citizenship Card). No candidate is permitted entry without these.
Candidates must reach the exam center at least 90 minutes before the scheduled start time to complete entry formalities and mandatory security checks.
No. Nomination by the Embassy does not guarantee admission. Final confirmation of admission depends on acceptance by the concerned Indian university/institution.
No. The Embassy of India only accepts applications submitted directly by the candidate. Applications routed through consultants, agents, or middlemen are liable to be rejected.
You can contact the official COMPEX Help Desk via email during working hours (typically 10 AM to 5 PM) for any difficulty related to the online application process.
No. COMPEX eligibility is based strictly on Class XII (10+2) marks, not on diploma qualifications. A Diploma in Pharmacy or any other diploma is not recognized as a qualifying credential under the scheme — there is no diploma-based or lateral-entry category. If a candidate has completed a diploma after Class XII, they may still be eligible only if their original Class XII marks meet the required percentages for the course they're applying to; the diploma itself does not count toward eligibility.
Yes. The scholarship scheme is open only to Nepalese Nationals, and preference is given to candidates who have completed their school studies in Nepal.
No. Once a candidate is placed, requests to change the college/institution/university, or to transfer the scholarship, are not entertained under any circumstances.
Submitting incorrect information can lead to forfeiture of admission or the scholarship at any stage of the process, even after selection or placement, so all details must be filled in carefully and accurately.
Yes. If your qualifying exam is equivalent to the 10+2 CBSE standard in India rather than a Nepali board, you must produce an equivalence certificate in addition to meeting the standard eligibility criteria.
Yes, NITs are included in the COMPEX university list, and you can apply to NITs without a JEE Mains score. However, this isn't true for every NIT — JEE is required for admission to some specific NIT colleges. A detailed list of which NITs don't require JEE will be shared separately, so keep checking for updates.
JEE (Main/Advanced) is necessary only for admission into IITs and some specific NIT colleges under the COMPEX scheme. It is not required for all the colleges available in the COMPEX university list — most other institutes can be applied to without a JEE score.
No. Calculators are not provided at the exam center, and candidates are not permitted to bring their own calculator either.
You need to carry the original documents to the embassy for verification — not just notarized copies. If your board issues grades instead of direct percentages, carry the percentage-conversion document as well, since original documents are what the embassy asks for at this stage.
There's no fixed universal number of days — the process works like this: first, visit the Embassy of India kathmandu for document verification. After that's done, email the concerned college to ask about the exact date by which you need to report/join. The college will confirm the joining timeline directly with you.
No. COMPEX eligibility is fixed at Class XII (10+2) or the equivalent 10+2 CBSE standard, with specific subject-percentage requirements — a CTEVT Diploma or Certificate is not a recognized qualifying credential for COMPEX. CTEVT-level students have their own separate scholarship system (e.g., the CTEVT Classified Scholarship for Diploma/Certificate programs), which is run entirely by CTEVT with its own eligibility (based on SEE/SLC results), application process, and funding — it is completely independent of COMPEX and the Indian Embassy. One exception: if a student completed their Class XII first and later also did a CTEVT diploma, they may still apply for COMPEX using their original Class XII marks, since it's the diploma qualification itself that isn't accepted — not necessarily the student's entire academic history.
Need the full picture?
Our COMPEX scholarship page sets out the eligibility rules, document checklist and application steps in one place. These answers are our own summaries and are not official; where anything differs, the current official notice takes priority.