What is National Talent Search Exam (NTSE)? - Scholarship Amount, Official Website and Pattern
National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)
Table of Contents
What is NTSE Exam?
Why NTSE Exam?
NTSE Exam Summary
NTSE Exam Eligibility Criteria
How to Apply NTSE Exam?
NTSE Stage 1: State Level
NTSE Stage 1 Exam Pattern
NTSE Stage 1 Selection Process
NTSE Stage 2: National Level
NTSE Stage 2 Exam Pattern
NTSE Stage 2 Selection Process
NTSE Exam Scolarship Amount
NTSE Exam Facts
NTSE Exam Advantages of NTSE
NTSE Exam Disadvantages
What is NTSE Exam?
NTSE (National Talent Search Examination) is a national-level scholarship examination conducted for school students in India. This exam is organized annually by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The NTSE exam is conducted to identify and encourage meritorious and talented students. This examination is for students who have passed Class 9 and are enrolled in Class 10.
The NTSE exam is conducted in two stages, Stage 1 (State Level) and Stage 2 (National Level). Students who pass both stages are awarded scholarships and recognition by the government through this exam, from Class 11 up to the Ph.D level.
Why NTSE Exam?
There are several important reasons to take the NTSE exam, which make it different from other scholarship exams.
- National Recognition: The NTSE exam is one of the most prestigious scholarship exams in India. Students who pass this exam receive national recognition and respect.
- Continuous Scholarships: Through the NTSE exam students are provided regular financial assistance at all academic levels, from higher secondary to Ph.D, which is rare in other scholarship exams.
- Talent Development: The NTSE exam evaluates students mental ability (MAT) and academic skills (SAT), which enhances their ability to think and solve problems.
- Competitive Exam Preparation: Preparing for the NTSE exam gives students experience for future national level competitive exams such as UPSC, SSC CGL, JEE, etc.
- Career Preference: Students who achieve the status of NTSE scholars are given preference in many career opportunities.
NTSE Exam Summary
NTSE Exam Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NTSE Scolarship Exam |
| Full Form | National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) |
| Conducting Body | NCERT |
| Purpose | Scholarship program for meritorious students |
| Target Candidates | Class 10th students aspiring for scholarships |
|
|
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Application Mode | Hybrid format (Online Download & Offline Submission) |
NTSE Exam Eligibility Criteria
NTSE Exam Eligibility Criteria
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Class | 10th |
| Age limit | Minimum 18 years |
| Conducting Body | |
| Marks | Minimum 55% in class 9th |
| Nationality | Indian |
How to Apply NTSE Exam?
The NTSE exam is conducted in two stages. The first stage is held at the state level, and the second stage is conducted at the national level. To participate NTSE Exam a candidate must first apply for NTSE Stage 1. It is essential for candidates to qualify in both stages to be eligible for the scholarship. If a candidate fails in either of the two stages, they will not be awarded the scholarship.
1. NTSE Stage 1: State Level
Most of the time the NTSE exam is conducted through schools. However, if a school does not offer the NTSE exam candidates can participate directly on their own. To apply for NTSE Stage 1 candidates need to follow the steps given below:
- Form Releases: NTSE application forms are typically released in "September to October" month.
- Application Form Download: To fill the NTSE application form candidates first need to visit their state SCERT website, where they can download the NTSE exam application form.
- Form Filling: After downloading the form candidate must carefully fill in the required details such as personal information, educational details, school information, caste, photograph, etc. and attach the necessary documents with the form.
- Form Submission: The correctly filled form should be submitted to the "regional liaison office" of the respective state/UT.
- Application Fees: A nominal fee according to the state requirements must be paid while submitting the application form.
State & UT SCERT Lists
1. State SCERT
State SCERT List
| Sr.no | State SCERT Website |
|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh |
| 3 | Assam |
| 4 | Bihar |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh |
| 6 | Goa |
| 7 | Gujarat |
| 8 | Haryana |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh |
| 10 | Jharkhand |
| 11 | Karnataka |
| 12 | Kerala |
| 13 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 14 | Maharashtra |
| 15 | Manipur |
| 16 | Meghalaya |
| 17 | Mizoram |
| 18 | Nagaland |
| 19 | Odisha |
| 20 | Punjab |
| 21 | Rajasthan |
| 22 | Sikkim |
| 23 | Tamil Nadu |
| 24 | Telangana |
| 25 | Tripura |
| 26 | Uttar Pradesh |
| 27 | Uttarakhand |
| 28 | West Bengal |
2. UT SCERT List
UT SCERT List
| Sr.no | UT SCERT Website |
|---|---|
| 1 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| 2 | Chandigarh |
| 3 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| 4 | Lakshadweep |
| 5 | Delhi |
| 6 | Puducherry |
| 7 | Ladakh |
| 8 | Jammu and Kashmir |
NTSE Stage 1 Exam Pattern
NTSE Stage 1 exam is conducted in two parts.
- Mental Ability Test (MAT)
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Medium | English, or state regional language |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 marks |
2. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
2. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Medium | English, or state regional language |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 marks |
| Subject |
|
NTSE Stage 1 Selection Process
- Admit Card: After submission of application form NTSE admit card is released on the SCERT official website of the State/UT.
- Exam: After downloading the exam admit card, Stage 1 exam will be conducted between "November or December" month.
- Result: Stage 1 result is declared on the state/UT SCERT website a some days after the examination.
NTSE Stage 2: National Level
NTSE Stage 2 is conducted directly by NCERT. This is a national level exam, and only candidates who have qualified in the NTSE Stage 1 exam can appear for this stage. NTSE Stage 2 is a very important stage of the NTSE exam because candidates are awarded the scholarship only after qualifying for the NTSE Stage 2 exam.
NTSE Stage 2 Exam Pattern
The NTSE Stage 2 exam is conducted in 2 parts.
- Mental Ability Test (MAT)
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Medium | English and Hindi |
| Section |
|
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 marks |
2. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
2. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Medium | English and Hindi |
| Subject |
|
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 marks |
NTSE Stage 2 Selection Process
- Merit List: After qualifying for NTSE Stage 2 NCERT releases the category-wise cutoff and rank of candidates on its official website.
- Letter: Once the merit list is declared, eligible candidates receive a letter from NCERT via post. Based on the details provided in this letter candidates need to apply for the scholarship.
NTSE Exam Scolarship Amount
NTSE Exam Scolarship Amount
| Level | Class | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Secondary Education (HSE) | Class 11 | ₹1,250 per month |
| Class 12 | ₹1,250 per month | |
| Graduation Level | Undergraduate | ₹2,000 per month |
| Postgraduate | ₹2,000 per month | |
| Doctoral Level | PHD | Scholarship amount is given as per UGC norms. |
NTSE Exam Facts
- NTSE was launched by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in 1963.
- NTSE is a highly competitive exam, in which lakhs of students appear every year. But the number of qualified candidates is just in thousands.
NTSE Exam Advantages
- Financial assistance: Every month NTSE provides a financial assistance to the selected candidate. Although the amount is not much, but it helps in the amount of educational expenses (pens, books, notebooks) of the candidate.
- National recognition: NTSE is a national level prestigious exam, by passing this exam, the candidate gets national level recognition. This recognition is very useful to the candidate in future educational applications and biodata.
- Skill enhancement: In preparation for NTSE exam, logical reasoning, analytical skills of the students increase. These skills are beneficial for other competitive exams and future studies.
- Confidence enhancement: Clearing NTSE in 10th is a big thing in itself, which increases the confidence of the student. Due to which the student gets experience to face the challenges coming in future.
- Preparation for competitive exams: By giving NTSE exam, the student gets an example to prepare for other competitive exams like JEE, NEET, etc.
NTSE Exam Disadvantages
- Preparation Pressure: NTSE exam is for class 10 students, class 10 is very important, this class is the first stage of the candidate's career, in which the candidate already has the pressure of studies, on top of that giving NTSE exam gives the candidate less time for regular school studies and board exam studies.
- High Competition: NTSE is a highly competitive exam in which candidates from different states of the country appear in the exam.
- Low Scholarship: The amount of scholarship of NTSE is very low.
- Preparation Cost: NTSE requires coaching and study material, which creates additional burden on financially constrained families.
- Psychological Impact: NTSE exam is very difficult, if for some reason the student fails in NTSE exam, then it also has a psychological impact on his board exam.
- Quota Based: Every state has its own quota, and it is not sure that every deserving student will get scholarship, no matter how well he has performed.
