The NTSE Exam or commonly known as the National Talent Search Examination is held every year by NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training), New Delhi. The sole objective of this exam is to identify the top talents in the country and to nurture them and also helps them monetarily by providing them monthly scholarships. The Exam is open to all students in class VIII who are citizens of India. This also includes Indian students studying abroad.
Application Form
The application form for the NTSE exam is published in all leading newspapers with other details like the important dates and instructions for candidates to help fill the form. The application form also has details of the reservation, selection process, last date for submitting the form and dates of the stage 1 and stage 2 examinations. With the advent of technology these days the application form can also be downloaded directly from the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
Exam Details & Selection Process
Since the exam is open to all the students in class 8 in India, it is one of the most competitive and toughest exams in the country. The exam tests the students on areas like Science with questions on Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Social science with questions from History, Geography and Civics and Mathematics with a good mix of questions from algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Arithmetic, Statistics and Menstruation. The mode of exam is in English. There are two stages of exam. Only the students how qualify for the stage I can appear for the stage II examination. Fees is applicable only for the stage I examination which is notified by the state and the union territories.
The Stage I examination comprises of Mental ability tests and Scholastic Ability tests that covers social sciences, Mathematics and science. This is a state level / union Territory level examination. Only students who qualify in the state level examination appear for the Stage II which is a national level examination. The Stage II also includes mental ability tests and scholastic ability tests. The students who qualify in the Stage II exam are invited for the final interview. Every state can only recommend students within the quota allotted to them. However there is no quota for the final reward of the scholarship.
The results of the Stage I exams will be announced by the respective State or Union Territory government and the Stage II exams are announced by NCERT.
Indian students studying abroad can directly apply for the Stage II of the examination.
Scholarships & Reservations
1000 students are identified pan-India on a national level and awarded scholarships. The scheme covers courses like Medicine, Management, Law and Engineering up to the Post graduate level and courses like Basic Sciences, Social sciences and Commerce up to Ph. D level. The amount of scholarship paid will be Rs.500 per month. There are some reservations that apply on the scholarships. 15% of the scholarships are reserved for students belonging to the Scheduled Caste, 7.5% of it for students belonging to Scheduled Tribe and 3% of it is reserved for physically handicapped children.
