National Talent Search Examination
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was established by the Government of India in the year 1961 with a view to bringing about qualitative improvement in school education in the country.NCERT Website: www.ncert.nic.in
The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a National Level scholarship program in India to identify and nurture talented students. It honors and helps talented students by providing financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship for the entire Academic Career.
There is a two-stage selection process for award of scholarship.
Stage – I, selection will be done by States/UTs and those who qualify Stage – I will be eligible to appear for
Stage – II examination conducted by NCERT.
This programme took up the shape of a scheme called National Science Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) in the year 1963 which provided for the identification of talented students and awarding them with scholarships.
Note: The scheme was made open to the students of Classes X, XI and XII and separate examinations were conducted for each class. The
number of scholarships was raised to 500. The selection procedure was also changed. Now the candidates were subjected to two objective type written tests namely the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). A stipulated number of candidate qualifying these two tests were subjected to face-to-face interview. The final awards were made on the basis of composite scores obtained in the MAT, the SAT and the interview.
Importance Information: Syllabubs
which comprised MAT and SAT. The MAT, which consisted of 100 multiple choice type questions, was to be attempted by all the candidates. The SAT consisted of 200 questions containing 25 multiple choice type questions each on eight subject areas namely
1. Mathematics,
2.Physics,
3.Chemistry,
4.Biology,
5.History,
6.Geography,
7.Civics and Economics.
The candidates could choose any four out of these eight subjects and had to answer a total of 100 questions in the SAT.
A stipulated number of candidates who qualified at the national level 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.
A crucial modification in the scheme was again made in the year 1995 when the provision of choice in the SAT was abolished and all the subjects were made compulsory. These subjects were Science, Social Science and Mathematics with 40, 40 and 20 questions respectively.
In the year 2000, the number of scholarships was raised from 750 to 1000 with the provision of reservation for SC and ST candidates based on the national norms of 15 per cent and 7½ per cent respectively. In the year 2019 the number of scholarship was raised from 1000 to 2000.
Importance Information Bulletin – New Syllabubs For (11 & 12 Class) Student For appearing this Exam
the NCERT conducted two more examinations for Class X students in the selection year 2007 and 2008 in order to give the opportunity to those who were present in Classes X and IX. The class VIII MAT and SAT consisted of 90 questions each.
Note: 1. SAT had 35 questions for Social Science, 35 for science, and 20 for Mathematics. The quota for a state was computed proportionally on the basis of student enrolment in Classes VII and VIII.
2. The amount of Scholarship has been enhanced to Rs 500/- per month for all the students studying in Class IX onwards (irrespective of the class/course) except for Ph.D., wherein it was paid as per UGC norms. The criterion of parental income for deciding payment of scholarship was discontinued. Book grant was also discontinued
3. Once again in 2013 NTS Exam was shifted to class X and Language Test (English/Hindi) was included as an additional component along with Mental Ability Test and Scholastic Test. Language Test was qualifying in nature and the scores of language test were not included in deciding final merit. In the year 2014 negative marking was introduced for the first time at stage II national level examination, wherein 1/3 marks were deducted for every wrong answer and no marks were deducted for unattempted questions.
4. In the year 2014-15 the rates of scholarships were increased from Rs. 500 to the following rates for various stages of education.
a) Scholarship of Rs. 1250/- per months for class XI and XII.
b) Scholarship of Rs. 2000/- per month for UG and PG.
c) Scholarship for students pursuing Ph.D in accordance with UGC norms.
5. In 2015 minimum qualifying marks for SC/ST/PH candidates were increased from 32% to 35%. In 2017 4% reservation to Physical, Challenged Category was implemented for a group of students, with benchmark disabilities.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
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.
1. STATE LEVEL EXAMINATION
Each State/UT conducts its own examination. They have the autonomy to lay down their own norms for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the candidates. This examination is primarily used to recommend a given number of candidates for the second level test to be conducted by
the NCERT. This number is based on the enrolment of students at Classes IX and X in different states/UTs. The candidates are to be recommended on the basis of merit in the written examination conducted by the States/UTs. The details of the number of candidates for different States/UTs as
applicable are notified separately.
2. Eligibility :
All students studying in Class X in any type of recognized school including Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, and Sainik School, etc. will be eligible to appear at the State Level Examination from the State in which the school is located. However, no domicile restriction shall be imposed. The state may impose any other eligibility condition for appearing in the screening examination like any qualifying percentage of marks in the previous annual examination etc. Students registered under Open and Distance Learning (ODL) are also eligible for scholarship provided the students are below the age of 18 years (as on 1st July of that particular year) the students are not employed and they are appearing in class X for the first time.
Exam Test Criteria
| Paper | Test | Duration | Number Of Marks | Number Of Question | Qualifying |
| Paper-I | Mental Ability Test (MAT) | 120 min | 100 | 100 | 32% SC, ST and PWD and 40% for Others (General & OBC) |
| Paper-II | Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) | 120 min | 100 | 100 (Science-40, Mathematics-20, Social Science-40) | – |
Written Examination:
The written examination shall consist of two papers; Paper-I Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Paper-II Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Both the tests will be administered on the same day
3.2.5 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 items on a separate OMR sheet as per instructions given in the test booklet and on the OMR sheet.
3.2.6 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. There shall be 40 items from Science, 40 from Social Science, and 20 from Mathematics, Candidates are required to answer the items on a separate OMR sheet to be provided at the examination center as per instructions.
Last Year solved Paper NTSE
Marking
Each item in both the tests shall carry one mark each. A candidate shall get one mark for the correct response. There will be no negative marking in either of the tests. Nevertheless, candidates are advised not to resort to blind guessing, which may not be of any help to them.
Declaration of Result
The final award shall be declared on the basis of combined scores of MAT and SAT. Only the selected candidates shall be informed by registered letter and through NCERT website www.ncert.nic.in. Marks obtained by the candidates in written examination will be revealed to
all the candidates individually through the NCERT website.
RATES OF SCHOLARSHIP
The rates of scholarship at different stages are given as under:
Sl.No. Stage Rate of Scholarship
- Higher Secondary level Rs. 1250/- p.m.
- Graduate and Post Graduate Rs. 2000/- p.m.
- For Ph.D. degree (four years) As per UGC norm
When & How do I prepare for NTSE:
The recent announcement by NCERT to change the eligibility to appear in National Talent Search Exam (NTSE) now allows students who are currently in class X to compete in this exam. Student should focus on clearing their fundamentals and attempting a lot of practice tests.