National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)
National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)

NCERT conducts the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) in coordination with states for students studying in Class X to identify and nurture their talent and then award them with scholarships. 

These scholarships are awarded on the basis of two objective-type written tests namely the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) followed by face-to-face interviews. Identification of talent comprises a two-stage selection process. While the individual State/UT conducts the first stage selection, the second stage selection at the national level is carried out by the NCERT.

National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)

NTSE 2022-2023 Notification

The National Talent Search Scheme is a central sector scheme fully funded by Ministry of Education (MoE) Government of India (Gol). NCERT is an implementing agency for NTS scheme. The Scheme was approved till 31st March, 2021. The further implementation of the scheme n its present form has not been approved and has been stalled till further orders. This is for the information of all concerned.

2000 scholarships are awarded in the country with a reservation of 15 percent for SC, 7.5 percent for ST and 27 percent for other backward classes, and 4 percent for a group of students with benchmark disabilities.

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State-Level National Talent Search Exam (NTSE)

  • Arunachal Pradesh State Level NTSE
  • Andhra Pradesh State Level NTSE
  • Andaman & Nicobar State Level NTSE
  • Assam State Level NTSE
  • Bihar State Level NTSE
  • Chandigarh State Level NTSE
  • Chhattisgarh State Level NTSE
  • Dadra & Nagar Haveli NTSE
  • Daman & Diu State Level NTSE
  • Delhi State Level NTSE
  • Goa State Level NTSE
  • Gujarat State Level NTSE
  • Haryana State Level NTSE
  • Himachal Pradesh State Level NTSE (HPTSE)
  • Jammu and Kashmir State Level NTSE
  • Jharkhand State Level NTSE
  • Karnataka State Level NTSE
  • Kerala State Level NTSE
  • Maharashtra State Level NTSE
  • Madhya Pradesh State Level NTSE
  • Manipur State Level NTSE
  • Meghalaya State Level NTSE
  • Mizoram State Level NTSE
  • Odisha State Level NTSE
  • Pondicherry State Level NTSE
  • Punjab State Level NTSE 
  • Rajasthan State Level NTSE
  • Sikkim State Level NTSE
  • Tamil Nadu State Level NTSE
  • Telangana State Level NTSE
  • Tripura State Level NTSE
  • Uttarakhand State Level NTSE
  • West Bengal State Level NTSE
  • Uttar Pradesh State Level NTSE

NTSE Eligibility

The National Talent Search Examination is open for students of Indian nationality whether they study in India or abroad at the Class X level.

Candidates Studying in India: Only the candidates selected by the States/UTs on the basis of their screening examination shall be eligible to appear in the National level examination to be conducted by the NCERT

Candidates Studying Abroad: Students of Indian nationality studying abroad at the Class X level may also compete for Talent Search Award. They are exempted from the first level-screening test and are permitted to appear directly at the second-level examination conducted by the NCERT.

Note: Students registered under Open Distance Learning (ODL) will also be eligible for the scholarship, provided the student is below the age of 18 years (as of 1st July of the particular year), the student is not employed and she/he is appearing in class X examination for the first time.

Note: Candidates who will qualify for the NTSE Stage 1 examination will only be eligible for NTSE Stage 2 Examination.

How to Apply

The students studying in Class X in the country ought to be on the lookout for any advertisement in the newspapers or circulars in the school by the respective Government of their State / UT.

The filled in application by the student be submitted to the State Liaison Officer duly
signed by the Principal of the school before the due date.

Examination Pattern

State level examination have two parts: Part-I Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Part-II Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for nominating the required number of candidates for the
second level test to be conducted by the NCERT.

Stage I & II: Examination at the State/UT level will comprise two papers i.e

 Papers Test No of questions marks Duration
Paper-IMental Ability Test (MAT)100100120 minutes
Paper-IIScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)100100120 minutes
Examination Pattern: Part-I Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Part-II Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

Mental Ability Test: There shall be 100 multiple-choice type items, with four alternatives. Each item will carry one mark. Candidates are required to answer the question in the prescribed mode.

Scholastic Aptitude Test: The Scholastic Aptitude Test will consist of 100 multiple-choice items of one mark each. Each item shall have four alternatives, out of which only one will be the correct answer. Candidates are required to answer the question in the prescribed mode.

Negative Marking: There will be No Negative Marking in Stage II Examination.

Centre of Examination

Generally, the candidate belonging to a particular state shall be allotted the center in the same state. Normally there is only one center in each state for the National Level Examination. The conduct of examination at the centers shall be done under the supervision of the Centre Superintendent appointed by the NCERT. An independent observer for each center is also appointed by the NCERT.

NTSE Syllabus

There is no prescribed syllabus for the NTSE exam. However, the standard of items shall be conforming to the level of Classes IX and X. You can go through the preparation books, question papers, and mock tests.

Results

The State / Union Territory will prepare a merit list of the candidates ensuring the
minimum qualifying marks in both the tests separately. These marks are 40 per cent in the case of General and OBC category candidates and 32 per cent in the case of SC / ST / physically challenged candidates.

The result of State Level Talent Search examination is declared in months of January / February by the States / UTs themselves. This examination is used only to recommend the candidates for second level NTS examination conducted by the NCERT.

NTSE Selection Process

There will be a two-stage selection process for the award of scholarship. For Stage-I, selection will be done by States/UTs through a written examination. Students who qualify for Stage I will be eligible to appear for the Stage II examination conducted by NCERT.

Only candidates qualifying in both papers separately will be considered for merit.  Selection of the awardees will be made on the basis of total Marks scored in MAT & SAT based on merit.

Qualifying marks for candidates from the General category is 40% in each paper and for candidates from SC, ST, and PH is 32% in each paper.

NTSE State Quotas

Each State / Union Territory has been allotted a quota to recommend a specific number of candidates for the Stage II examination. However, there will be no State / Union Territory Quota for the final award of scholarship after the Stage II examination. The quota is revised after every three years. The quota allotted for States for 2018 – 2020 is given below.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands20
Andhra Pradesh263
Arunachal Pradesh50
Assam202
Bihar691
Chandigarh20
Chattisgarh195
Dadra & Nagar Haveli20
Daman & Diu20
Delhi153
Goa50
Gujarat360
Haryana186
Himachal Pradesh51
Jammu & Kashmir64
Jharkhand142
Karnataka371
Kerala220
Lakshdweep20
Madhya Pradesh530
Maharashtra774
Manipur50
Meghalaya50
Mizoram50
Nagaland50
Odisha259
Puducherry20
Punjab183
Rajasthan485
Sikkim50
Tamil Nadu466
Telangana216
Tripura50
Uttar Pradesh1408
Uttarakhand79
West Bengal569
NTSE State Quotas

NTSE Reservation

  • 15% scholarships will be reserved for students belonging to the SC category,
  • 7.5% scholarships for students belonging to the ST category and
  • 27% scholarships for students belonging to the OBC category.
  • 4% for Physically Challenged Groups of Students.
  • 10% scholarships for students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) category.

NTSE Scholarships Amount

On the basis of the National Talent Search Examination scholarships will be awarded. The amount of the scholarship will be as under:

  • Scholarship of Rs. 1250 per month for class XI & XII
  • Scholarship of Rs. 2000 per month for UG & PG
  • Scholarship for Ph.D will be fixed in accordance with the UGC Norms.

FAQs

What are the eligibility criteria for the NTSE?

Students of Class 10 are eligible to appear for the exam.

How is the NTSE exam structured?

The exam consists of two parts: a Mental Ability Test (MAT) and a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

How many scholarships are awarded through the NTSE?

Approximately 1,000 scholarships are awarded to students across the country.

How is the scholarship disbursed?

The scholarship is awarded to students for their higher education, and the disbursement is done through the respective state governments.