

NPTEL Project Management Courses & Certifications Online
- Public/Government Institute
NPTEL All courses
Commonly asked questions On All Courses
Yes, NPTEL certificates are generally considered valid. They are issued by prestigious institutions like IITs and IISc, which adds significant weight to their credibility.
However, the specific value and recognition of the certificate can vary depending on:
The employer or institution: Different organizations may have different levels of acceptance for online certificates.
The course content: Certificates in high-demand fields like data science, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity tend to be more valued.
The learner's profile: Your overall academic and professional background can influence how the certificate is perceived.
No, NPTEL does not refund the exam fee after passing the exam.
The exam fee is non-refundable, even if a candidate scores well or fails.
The fee is used to conduct the exam, hire invigilators, and manage logistics.
However, some institutions reimburse the exam fee for students who pass, depending on their policies.
Thus, learners should carefully decide before registering for the exam.
The course instructor will determine if the test is online or offline:
Online Exam (Computer-based): Applicants are allowed to take the exam in the designated test center. The questions appear on the computer, and responses must be typed. Examples of questions that might appear include multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay questions.
Offline Exam (Pen-and-paper): Candidates take the exam at the exam center. The question paper is displayed on the computer, but answers are written on provided sheets. These sheets are tied and submitted to the invigilator after completion. The question types are similar to the online format.
Yes, SWAYAM courses, including NPTEL courses hosted on SWAYAM, are completely free to access.
Enrollment and learning materials (videos, assignments, and PDFs) are available for free.
Certification exams are paid (INR 1,000 to INR 2,000 per course), but optional.
Some government-funded scholarships are available for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds to cover exam fees.
SWAYAM is an initiative by the Government of India to make quality education accessible to all learners.
NPTEL Admission FAQs
courses are available to anyone without any rigorous eligibility criteria.
Students (Undergraduates, Postgraduates, and PhD scholars) from any college or university can join.
Working professionals can use NPTEL courses to enhance their skills.
Faculty members of educational institutions can utilize NPTEL courses for faculty development programs (FDP).
No educational qualification or age limitations—anybody who wants to learn can take up the course.
Please note that the faculty or trainer of a particular course may recommend having some basic knowledge of the mentioned topics to understand the course content better.
Quoting NPTEL here - “Please indicate only one correct answer from the given choices. Each correct answer earns 2 points, and the wrong answer loses –1 point. There is no negative marking for not attempting the question.”
Elaborating the above statement -
Single Correct Answer – Each question has multiple choices, but only one is correct.
Scoring System:
A correct answer earns 2 points.
A wrong answer results in a deduction of 1 point (-1 point).
No Negative Marking for Unattempted Questions – No points are added or deducted if a question is left unanswered.
Answering Strategy – To maximize the score, you should attempt questions only when reasonably confident about the correct answer.
NPTEL courses are absolutely free for all to access. However, there is an examination fee if student wants a certificate.
The examination fee is Rs. 1,000 per course for the majority of courses.
For AICTE and Advanced FDP courses, it is Rs. 2,000 per course.
Students belonging to economically weaker sections may be eligible for waiver of fees or scholarships.
Even if students do not pay for the exam, they can still gain from the course material without certification.
The difficulty level in NPTEL exams depends on the topic and the learner's background. But passing an NPTEL course is possible with adequate preparation.
IITs and IISc prepare NPTEL courses, so they have high academic standards.
Assignments account for 25% of the final score, so ensure your attendance is regular.
The last proctored exam has 75% weightage; students must score at least 40% (typically overall) to pass.
Certain advanced courses (particularly in computer science, mathematics, and engineering) may be demanding, with a need for good conceptual understanding. But students who attend lectures regularly and submit assignments on time can easily pass.
NPTEL
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Updated on Apr 8, 2025