Every year NCERT conducts the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) in coordination with states for students studying in Class X to identify and nurture their talent and then awarding them with scholarships. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of two objective type written tests namely the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) followed by face-to-face interviews. 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.
Latest: NTSE Stage 2 Exam Postponed due to COVID-19.
National Talent Search Exam (NTSE) 2020
2000 scholarships are awarded in the country with reservation of 15 percent for SC, 7.5 percent for ST and 27 percent for other backward classes and 4 percent for a group of students with benchmark disabilities. With the help of this page, candidates can get complete details on NTSE 2020 from below.
| NTSE 2020 Examination | Important Dates | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage I | Last date for Submission of Application Form | Application Closed |
| Examination in Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 02 Nov 2019 | |
| Examination in all other States and Union Territories except above & below mentioned 9 States/UTs. | 03 Nov 2019 | |
| Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, NCT of Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir | 17 Nov 2019 | |
| Stage II | Examination in All States and Union Territories | |
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NTSE 2020 Notification for Postponement of Stage 2 Exam
NTSE Eligibility
The National Talent Search Examination is open for students of Indian nationality whether they study in India or abroad at Class X level.
Candidates Studying in India: Only the candidates selected by the States/UTs on the basis of their screening examination shall be eligible to appear in the National level examination to be conducted by the NCERT.
Candidates Studying Abroad: Students of Indian nationality studying abroad at the Class X level may also compete for Talent Search Award. They are exempted from the first level-screening test and are permitted to appear directly at the second level examination conducted by the NCERT.
Note: Students registered under open Distance Learning (ODL) will also be eligible for schorship, provided the student is below the age of 18 years (as on 1st July of the particular year), the student is not employed and she/he is appearing in class X examination for the first time.
Note: Candidates who will qualify the NTSE Stage 1 examination will only be eligible for NTSE Stage 2 Examination.
NTSE Application Form
Application or Registration form for NTSE 2020 has been released. To fill the application form candidates have to visit their school or government offices where NTSE form releases. The filled-in application by the student be submitted to the State Liaison Officer duly signed by the Principal of the school before the due date as advertised / circulated by each concerned State / UT. Direct link of NTSE 2020 Application Form is also provided at Applicationn Form page.
NTSE Admit Card
The NTSE Admit Card 2020 for the stage -I examination has been released online on its respective state websites. The NTSE Admit Card / Admission letter shall have all the information about the venue, the roll number, the date and time of the test. Candidates can download their NTSE Admit Cards themselves before the examination.
Centre of Examination
Generally the candidate belonging to a particular state shall be allotted the centre in the same state. Normally there is only one centre in each state for the National Level Examination. The conduct of examination at the centers shall be done under the supervision of the Centre Superintendent appointed by the NCERT. An independent observer for each centre is also appointed by the NCERT.
NTSE Syllabus
There is no prescribed syllabus for the NTSE. However, the standard of items shall be conforming to the level of Classes IX and X. You can go through the preparation books, question papers and mock tests.
NTSE Examination Pattern
State level examination may have two parts: Part-I Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Part-II Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for nominating the required number of candidates for the second level test to be conducted by the NCERT. The pattern of written examination at State / UT level is as follows:
Stage I & II: Examination at the State/UT level will comprise two papers i.e
| Papers | Test | No of questions | marks | Duration |
| Paper-I | Mental Ability Test (MAT) | 100 | 100 | 120 minutes |
| Paper-II | Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) | 100 | 100 | 120 minutes |
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 question in prescribed mode.
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. Candidates are required to answer the question in prescribed mode.
Negative Marking: There will be No Negative Marking in Stage II Examination.
NTSE State Quotas
Each State / Union Territory has been allotted a quota to recommend a specific number of candidates for the Stage II examination. However, there will be no State / Union Territory Quota for the final award of scholarship after the Stage II examination. Quota is revised after every three years. Quota allotted for States for 2018 – 2020 is given below.
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 20 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 263 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 50 |
| Assam | 202 |
| Bihar | 691 |
| Chandigarh | 20 |
| Chattisgarh | 195 |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 20 |
| Daman & Diu | 20 |
| Delhi | 153 |
| Goa | 50 |
| Gujarat | 360 |
| Haryana | 186 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 51 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 64 |
| Jharkhand | 142 |
| Karnataka | 371 |
| Kerala | 220 |
| Lakshdweep | 20 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 530 |
| Maharashtra | 774 |
| Manipur | 50 |
| Meghalaya | 50 |
| Mizoram | 50 |
| Nagaland | 50 |
| Odisha | 259 |
| Puducherry | 20 |
| Punjab | 183 |
| Rajasthan | 485 |
| Sikkim | 50 |
| Tamil Nadu | 466 |
| Telangana | 216 |
| Tripura | 50 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1408 |
| Uttarakhand | 79 |
| West Bengal | 569 |
NTSE Selection Process
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.
Only candidates qualifying in both the papers separately will be considered for merit. Selection of the awardees will be made on the basis of total Marks scored in MAT & SAT based on merit.
Qualifying marks for candidates from General category is 40% in each paper and for candidates from SC, ST, PH is 32% in each paper.
The States/UTs will also conduct the selection test for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme on behalf of NCERT.
NTSE Reservation
- 15% scholarships will be reserved for students belonging to the SC category,
- 7.5% scholarships for students belonging to the ST category and
- 27% scholarships for students belonging to the OBC category.
- 4% for Physically Challenged Group of Students.
- 10% scholarships for students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) category.
NTSE Scholarships Amount
On the basis of the National Talent Search Examination scholarships will be awarded. The amount of scholarship will be as under:
- Scholarship of Rs. 1250 per month for class XI & XII
- Scholarship of Rs. 2000 per month for UG & PG
- Scholarship for Ph.D will be fixed in accordance with the UGC Norms.
Official Website: www.ncert.nic.in
For more details on NTSE 2020, download Information Brochure.
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