Will the NTSE happen this year? NTSE Exam Date, How to Apply
Note : The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) has not been conducted by the NCERT from year 2022. If NTSE exam is resumed by NCERT in coming years, it will be updated on this page.
NTSE Examination
Table of Contents :
Online Preparation for NTSE + JEE/ NEET Foundation : Course Details and Admission Process
How to Apply for NTSE Exam?
Students in class 10 can apply for NTSE Stage-1 exam in the month of July-December through their respective State/ UT NTSE application process.
Here are the steps to apply for NTSE exam :
- Go to your State/ UT education board website.
- Read the NTSE notification/ instructions carefully before applying for the NTSE exam.
- Check if you can apply for NTSE online or you need to download the application form.
- If an online application is available : Fill the form, attach required documents and submit the form.
- If an online application is not available : Download the form, take a print out, fill the form and send it to the address mentioned.
The application form for NTSE stage-I exam can be obtained from your State/ UT education website or Liaison officer. The completed application form after signed by the Principal of the school will be submitted to the address mentioned in the application form instructions. Last date for submitting the NTSE application form will be notified by your State/ UT only.
Related Pages : State-wise NTSE Application Form and Registration and List of Liaison officers NTSE.
NTSE Examination Fee: The exam fee for NTSE Stage-I exam will be notified by your State/ UT. For NTSE Stage-II examination, no fee is charged by NCERT.
Note : Students (in India, not abroad) don’t need to fill out any form for NTSE Stage-II examination.
NTSE Application Form for Indian Students Abroad [NRIs]
Indian students studying abroad in grade 10 can appear directly for NTSE Stage-II examination under conditions mentioned in the NTSE brochure. Application Form for Indian students studying abroad will be available on NCERT website in the month of November-December.
If you are an NRI (currently outside India) and have any query about NTSE application form and examination, you can send it through the form at the end of this page. We will resolve your query asap.
NTSE Exam Pattern [New Changes]
Changes in NTSE exam pattern : The review committee of NTS examination has made some significant changes in NTSE exam with respect to number of papers, number of questions, areas to be tested, time duration of the papers and practice of negative marking.
| NTSE Stage-I and Stage-II |
Paper 1 |
Paper 2 |
| Paper Name |
Mental Ability Test (MAT) |
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) |
| Number of Questions |
100 |
100 |
| Number of Marks |
100 |
100 |
| Duration |
120 Minutes (2 hours) |
120 Minutes (2 hours) |
| Negative Marking |
No |
No |
The qualifying marks for general category in both the NTSE papers will be 40%. For SC, ST and PWD, it will be 32%. A candidate needs to separately qualify in each paper for merit. Selection will be made on the basis of total marks scored in MAT & SAT based on merit.
Eligibility Criteria for NTSE
All students of Class 10th studying in recognized schools are eligible to appear for the NTSE Stage-I examination (conducted by the State/UT's in which the schools are located) and NTSE Stage-II (conducted by NCERT). There will be no domicile restriction.
Students registered under Open Distance Learning (ODL) will also be eligible for scholarship, 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.
NTSE Cut Off Category-wise [2020]
| Category |
Cut Off Marks |
| General |
132 |
| OBC |
110 |
| SC |
98 |
| ST |
89 |
| EWS |
81 |
NTSE Scholarships Details
From 2019, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced the enhancement of scholarships from 1000 to 2000. On the basis of NTSE Examination, 2000 scholarships are awarded each year. Out of which 15% are reserved for students belonging to the SC category, 7.5% for students belonging to ST category, 27% percent for other backward classes, 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) those who have not covered under the reservation scheme for SCs/STs/OBCs, and 4% for Physically Challenged group of students.
How much is the Scholarship in NTSE?
The scholarship amount in NTSE is:
- Scholarship of Rs.1250/- per month for class 11 and 12.
- Scholarship of Rs.2000/- per month for Undergraduates and Postgraduates students.
- Amount of Scholarship for Ph.D. is fixed according to the UGC norms.
New Rules for NTSE Scholarship Scheme :
- Awardees have to secure an aggregate of 60% marks or equivalent grade in order to be eligible for scholarship every year.
- A pass in all subjects for which a student is registered/appeared is necessary.
- Withdrawal in non core subjects as per institutional rules of exemption is considered for payment of scholarship.
- In view of online payment of scholarship to the awardee the stipulated time period is reduced from 24 months to 12 months.
- Students pursuing diploma or certificate courses will be provided scholarships, provided they are not employed.
NTSE Frequently Asked Questions
How many students are selected in NTSE?
Every year, 2000 students are selected in NTSE exam for scholarship. Out of which 15% are reserved for SC category, 7.5% for ST category, 27% percent for OBC, 10% for EWS and 4% for Physically Challenged students.
Who is eligible for the NTSE exam?
Students in class 10 are eligible to appear for the NTSE Stage-I examination (conducted by the State/ UT's in which the schools are located) and NTSE Stage-II (conducted by NCERT). Students registered under Open Distance Learning (ODL) are also eligible for NTSE. [Eligibility Criteria for NTSE Exam]
Is there any eligibility criteria like minimum percentage in previous classes to apply for NTSE?
Generally there is no minimum percentage requirement for NTSE. But this may depend on your State/ UT. They can impose any eligibility criteria. If there is any such condition, it will be mentioned in the NTSE notification.
Is the NTSE exam for Class 8?
No, NTSE exam is for class 10 students only. For class 8 students, the NMMS (National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship) exam is conducted by various States/ UTs. NMMS application form is available at the same time as NTSE stage-I applications.
When will the NTSE Application Form be available?
NTSE application process starts in the month of July- August. Your State/ UT will release the NTSE Stage-I notification that will have all the details about the NTSE application form. You can also contact your Liaison officer or School for the availability of NTSE Stage-I application form. [NTSE Exam Schedule]
Where and How to fill NTSE Application Form?
The NTSE application form will be available on your State/ UT education portal. The instructions to fill the NTSE application form will also be provided with the application form. After filling the NTSE stage-I application form, don’t send it to NCERT. Submit the NTSE application online (if available) or send it to your State/ UT Liaison Officer only. [NTSE Application Form]
How can I download the NTSE form?
You can download the NTSE form from your State/ UT education board website. To make it simple for students, we are providing NTSE Application Form Download Facility.
Can we fill NTSE form online?
NTSE Stage-I application form may or may not be available online, it totally depends upon your State/ UT NTSE registration process. The majority of States/ UTs have implemented an online application process to submit NTSE forms. Just check your State/ UT NTSE application form notification.
What is the fee for appearing in the NTSE examination?
The fee for appearing in NTSE Stage-I examination depends on your State/ UT which may or may not require an application fee. If the fee is there, it will be mentioned in the NTSE notification published by your State/ UT. For NTSE Stage-II exam, there is no fee charged by NCERT.
How many questions are asked in the NTSE examination?
The number of questions asked in NTSE Stage-I & Stage-II exams : MAT - 100 questions (120 Minutes), SAT - 100 Questions (120 Minutes). [Check NTSE Exam Pattern Stage-I and Stage-II]
Is there any negative marking in NTSE examination?
No, there is no negative marking in NTSE exam, both Stage-I and Stage-II. It's recommended to attempt all the questions in the NTSE exam.
When are NTSE results declared?
NTSE Stage-I results are generally declared in the month of January- March by your State/ UT. NTSE Stage-II i.e. final results are announced in the month of May- June by NCERT.
Is there an exam rechecking facility in NTSE?
No. There is no provision for rechecking in NTSE. You can check your OMR sheets on NCERT website when uploaded.
Do I need to fill another form for stage-II if I clear NTSE stage-I?
No. You don’t need to fill any further form for NTSE Stage-II exam. The Roll No and Exam centre of NTSE Stage-II will be sent to you by NCERT.
Will I get any certificate after clearing NTSE Stage-I?
No, you will not get any certificate for NTSE stage-I. After the results, you will receive the admit card for 2nd stage and along with that you will get one letter from the state board head congratulating you for clearing NTSE stage-I exam.
Can an ICSE student apply for NTSE exam?
Yes, an ICSE student can give NTSE exam. Grade 10 students of all the recognised boards can apply for NTSE.
NTSE Coaching (Stage-I and Stage-II preparation) with live online classes from top faculty in India : NTSE Online Coaching
Related Pages :
NTSE Syllabus SAT and MAT
NTSE Preparation Strategy and Study Plan
Best Books for NTSE Preparation
NTSE Previous Year Papers
For any further help in your NTSE preparation, please fill the below form and send your message or query to us.