NATIONAL TALENT SEARCH EXAMINATION [NTSE]

National Talent Search Scheme is a flagship activity of the NCERT started in the year 1963. The purpose of the scheme was to identify talented students and nurture their talent. Talent refers to the potentiality that manifests itself in a high level of performance in one or more specialized areas. The scheme, therefore, covers areas like Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Management and Law. It honours and helps talented students by providing financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship. For the courses in Basic Sciences, Social sciences and Commerce, this assistance is provided up to Ph.D. level. For professional courses like Engineering, Medicine, Management and Law this assistance is given only up to Post Graduation. The NCERT conducts the National Talent Search Examination for students studying in Class X. However change was made in 2006 wherein the NTSE Examination was held at end of Class VIII. From 2012, this is again being held for Class X students.

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

Eligibility: Students of Class X studying in recognized schools are eligible to appear for the respective Class X Stage I examination conducted by the States/UTs in which the schools are located. There will be no domicile restriction.

Examination: The pattern written examination for Class X will be as follows:

Stage I examination at the state/UT level will comprise two parts, namely (a) Mental Ability Test (MAT) and (b) Scholastic Ability Test (SAT) which also includes Language Comprehensive Test.

State II examination at the National level will comprise (a) Mental Ability Test (MAT), (b) Scholastic Ability Test (SAT) covering Language, Social Sciences, Sciences and Mathematics.