The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national level scholarship program in India to Identify and Nurture talented students. It honours and helps talented students by providing financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship for a entire academic career. The scheme’s official name is National Science Talent Search (NSTS), and is open to student of Indian National only. Students studying in class Xth standard are eligible to appear for the selection process. There is a two-stage selection process for award of scholarship. For Stage I, selection will be done by States/UTs through the written examination. Each State/Union Territory has been alloted a quota to recommend a specific number of candidates for the Stage II examination.
A stipulated number of candidates who qualified at the national level 1 examination were called for face-to-face interview. The award of scholarships was finally determined on the basis of the candidates’ scores obtained in all the three components namely the MAT, the SAT and the Interview.
• Scholarships: On the basis of the National Talent Search Examination, 1000 scholarships will be awarded. The amount of scholarship will be Rs.500/- per month.
• Reservation: 15% scholarships will be reserved for students belonging to the SC category, 7.5% scholarships for students belonging to the ST category and 3% for Physically Challenged Group of Students.
• Selection: There will be two-stage selection process for award of scholarship. For Stage-I, selection will be done by States/UTs through a written examination. Students, who qualify Stage- I, will be eligible to appear for Stage-II examination, conducted by NCERT.
• Eligibility: All students of Class X studying in recognized schools are eligible to appear for the Stage -I examination, conducted by the States/UTs, in which the schools are located. There will be no domicile restriction.
• Examination: The pattern of written examination for Class X will be as follows:
1. Stage I examination at the State/UT level will comprise of two parts, namely (a) Mental Ability Test (MAT) and (b) Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
2. Stage II examination at the National level will comprise of (a) Mental Ability Test (MAT), (b) Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
• State Quotas: Each State/Union Territory has been allotted a quota to recommend a specific number of candidates for the Stage II examination, the details of which will be made available on NCERT website. However, there will be no State/Union Territory Quota for the final award of scholarship after the Stage II examination.
•Application Form: You may contact the State/UT Liaison officer for procuring application form. However, application form can be downloaded from NCERT website http://www.ncert.nic.in also.
• The completed application form should be signed by the Principal of the school. The candidate as well as the Principal of the school must adhere to the last date for submission of the Application Form. Different states may have different last dates for state, submission. Please confirm from the liaison officer of your state, the address at which the completed forms are to be submitted. The State wise contact of the liaison officers are and are also available in the NCERT website www.ncert.nic.in. All queries related to application form should be directed to the State Liaison Officers (LOs).No application should be sent to NCERT.
• Fees: States and Union Territories may notify the fee required which will be paid for the Stage-I examination. Therefore, before submitting the application form, you may find out the fees charged for Stage-I Examination and also the mode of payment from the respective State Liaison Officers (LOs). However, NCERT does not charge any fee for Stage-II examination.
• Announcement of Results: Results of the Stage-I examination will be announced by the respective State Governments/ Union Territories. Results of Stage-II examination will be Stage- announced by NCERT.
• Indian Students Studying Abroad in class X can appear directly for Stage II NTS Examination under conditions prescribed in the NTS brochure which is available on the NCERT website. Candidates may fill up the Application Form, available on the NCERT website and send to the undersigned along with a photocopy of the mark sheet of previous examination, latest by March 31, 2013.
Head
Educational Survey Division
National Council of Educational Research & Training Training
Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi-110016