NTSE (National Talent Search Examination)

NTSE or National Talent Search Examination is a national-level exam conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for granting scholarships to meritorious students studying in class 10th.

NTSE is only held for 10th-standard students and the exam is conducted in two different stages – Stage I and II. The first stage exam is a state-level exam conducted by all the Indian states and UTs.

On the other hand, NTSE stage II is conducted for those students who clear the first stage. Only those who qualify in NTSE stage 1 will be eligible to write the Stage II exam. NTSE scholarship will be awarded on the basis of the overall performance of students in both stages of the examination.

NTSE Highlights

Eligibility Criteria for NTSE

NTSE Stage 1

1. Students currently enrolled in class 10 from any recognized school/board including Sainik Schools, Kendriya Vidyalaya and Navodaya Vidyalaya were eligible to apply for stage 1 of the NTSE exam.

2. States cannot impose domicile restrictions for stage 1, however, they may add additional eligibility conditions such as the qualifying score of the previous class.

3. Students studying from the open board, below 18 years of age, unemployed and appearing in class 10 for the first time are also eligible to appear for NTSE exam stage 1.

4. Indian students are allowed to appear for NTSE stage 1 exam. Students studying outside India can directly appear in the stage 2 exam.

NTSE Stage II

1. Participants must be appearing for the first time in class 10.

2. Some states require candidates to score a minimum of 55 % marks in class 9 to apply for NTSE exam 2023.

3. Indian students studying abroad in Class 10 or equivalent class can directly apply for NTSE stage II. They must obtain at least 60 percent marks (in aggregate) in class 9th.

Studying Abroad

1. Indian students studying abroad in Class X or equivalent are eligible to write stage 2 (second level examination) directly and are exempted from the stage 1 examination.

2. The candidate must have scored 60% in the previous year’s annual examination.

3. The candidate should appear for the examination in a center in India.

4. The candidates must request through the Head of the Institution where he/she is studying, along with an attested copy of the Class IX mark sheet. The request should reach the Head, Department of Educational Survey Division, NCERT, New Delhi by 31 December of the concerned year.

5. The selected candidate will receive the scholarship only if he/she decides to pursue studies in India.

Reservation of Seats

Some percentages of the seats are reserved for the students who are SC/ST/PWD by NCERT. Students who live abroad can also claim the seats if they fall into the category of NTSE eligibility for reserved seats.

1. For Scheduled Caste, the reserved seat is 15%

2. For Scheduled Tribes, the reserved seat is 7.5%

3. For Persons with disabilities, the reserved seat is 3%.