In order to identify talented students and to award them with scholarships, the National Council of Research and Training (NCERT) initiated National Talent Search Scheme (NTSS) in 1963.
In the beginning, it was confined to the union territory of Delhi and in the year 1964, the scheme was extended every state across the country and the union territories for the students of class XI.
One has to qualify in the written examination to avail of this scholarship. The performance of the candidates in this test will be assessed to award the scholarship. This scholarship will help to pursue education particularly from graduate to doctoral level.
For the Karnataka students, a scholarship of INR 2,000/- per annum for a period of 2 years will be sanctioned to students who pass the State level NTS examination but un-succeeded in National level examination.
Though the earlier the scholarship was confined to only science students, in 1976 it has been extended to even social sciences, engineering, and medicine stream. Thus it renamed as National Talent Search Scheme (NTSS). Then the scheme was made open to the students of classes X, XI and XII.
Read: Top Karnataka Government Scholarship Program
National Talent Search Scheme – How To Avail The Scholarship
In order to avail the scholarship, the candidate has to appear for two objective types is written tests i.e. Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Candidates who qualify in these tests have to appear for face to face interview. The scholarship will be awarded basis of the scores obtained by a candidate in the MAT and SAT.
In 1981, 50 scholarships were reserved for scheduled Castes (S) and Scheduled tribes (ST) candidates. Though the states and union territories have complete authority to design their own pattern of question paper, however, they were advised to follow the national pattern.
The national pattern will include MAT and SAT Pattern. MAT consists of 100 multiple choice type questions and all the candidates should attempt these questions. Science, social science and mathematics are compulsory in SAT.
Questions for SAT exam will contain 4,040 and 20 questions from the above subjects respectively. In 2019 the number of scholarships was raised from 1000 to 2000. Except for PhD scholarship amount will be paid as per UGC norms.
A provision of three per cent reservation for Physically Challenged has been made since 2008. Language test has been introduced as an additional component along with other tests. Though the language test is not qualifying in nature and the scores of language tests were not included while deciding the final merit.
Differently Abled Candidates
There is 4 % reservation to physically challenged with benchmark disabilities like
- Locomotor disability like cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy.
- Blindness and low vision
- Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness
- Deaf and hard of hearing
Earlier there were negative marks and NCERT abolished it later. Same time it increased the duration of the exam and number of questions. 27 % Reservation has been introduced for other Backward Class (OBC) from the year 2019.
National Talent Search Scheme And Reservation
At the present scheme, the scholarship will be awarded to the candidates for pursuing courses in science and social science up to doctoral level. This scholarship will also include professional courses like medical and engineering up to second-degree level.
Around 2000 scholarships were granted to the students in the country. Out of this reservation has been provided to SC (15%), ST (7.5%), other backward classes (27%), and physically challenged (4%).
Selection Procedure
- First stage – State/UT exam
- Second stage-National level by NCERT
State Level Examination
Every state and UT can conduct its own examination and they have an authority to determine the eligibility of the candidates. The NCERT conducts second round qualification exam. The % of students will be decided based on the enrolment of students to Class IX and X in different states/UTs.
Other than Andaman and Nicobar Island, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya, the state level exam will be held on the first Sunday of November. Except for special circumstances, the exam will be conducted on first Saturday in the month of November every year in the above places.
All class Xth students who are studying in recognised schools which includes Sainik school, Navodaya Vidyalaya and Kendriya Vidyalaya etc can appear for the state-level examination. They can write the exam from the state in which the school is located. Students registered under open and distance learning are also eligible for scholarships.
How To Apply For National Talent Search Scheme
Students should submit their filled applications to the State Liaison Officer. This application should be duly signed by the principal of the school before the last date.
Medium Of Examination
The state/UT will announce the medium.
Fee
The state will fix the examination fee and fee for an application form.
Examination
A candidate has to face:
- Mental Ability Tests (MAT) (Part I )
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) (Part II).
Through this tests state will nominate the required number of candidates for the National level test.
National Talent Search Scheme -Qualification Criteria
| Category | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 40% |
| OBC/SC/ST/PH | 32% |
State Level Talent Search Examination results will be declared in the month of January/February. Marks obtained in the state-level examination shall not be added to the National Level Examination.
National Level Examination
No fee will be charged for appearing in the National Level Examination.
Any student who is studying in class 10th and belongs to Indian nationality can appear for the exam irrespective of his habitation in Foreign countries.
Generally, the national level examination will be conducted on the second Sunday of May each year.
Students Studying In Abroad
- Students of Indian nationality studying abroad at the class 10th level can also appear for the second level examination conducted by NCERT.
- A foreign student is exempted from first level examination and he can directly appear for the test conducted by NCERT.
- A student should score a minimum of 60 % marks to appear at the previous annual examination.
- The council will allot roll numbers to the qualified students. It is the council’s responsibility to inform the students about the examination date, time and the place along with other significant instructions.
- Council won’t entertain the request for a change in the examination centre.
- If foreign students are selected for a scholarship scheme, then he/she will become eligible to receive the amount for pursuing studies only in India.
- Change in the centre is applicable only for genuine cases.
About NTS Exam
- There is no prescribed format for the NTS exam. But the standard of questions will be level of class IX and X. A model booklet `Learn about the test’ about sample items for both the Tests MAT and SAT is available in print as well as on the NCERT website.
- Both MAT and SAT tests will be administered on the same day
- The question paper is available in the following languages: Kannada, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Odisa, Punjabis, Asamiya, Bangla, English, Gujarathi, Hindi, Telugu and Urdu. Candidates have to select one of the above languages while submitting the application.
- The NCERT shall upload the E-Admit cards for the National level examination. In case of a change in address, the candidate has to communicate it to the NCERT
Centre Of Examination
Generally for each state, there is only one centre for national level examination. Particular state candidates will be allotted to the centre located in the same state.
Only for the genuine cases, the council has the power to change the centre of the examination. But it will be based on a written request from the candidate. The council should receive this request within 15 days after downloading the E-admit card.
This request should reach the concerned department at least 21 days before the examination. In such cases, the candidate will get only English medium question papers.
Declaration Of Results
There will be no negative marks. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of combined scores of MAT and SAT. Candidates can check the NCERT website for the results.
Quota allotted for states /UTs will be revised once in three years. This is the quota allotted for states and UTs in 2018-19 and 2019-2010.
NTSS Quota Allotted To States And Union Territories
| States/Union Territories | Quota |
|---|---|
| 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 |
TOTAL 8387 * Quota is revised every three years
National Talent Search Scheme – General Conditions
An awardee is eligible for the scholarship if she/he:
- should take up studies in approved courses
- should maintain good conduct
- A candidate should indulge himself completely in the studies.
- He/she should not join any job where he/she earns money
- If a candidate is already getting a regular scholarship from other means, then he/she has to select one. Or in such cases, NTS can be temporarily discontinued for that particular year.
- For NTS scholarship they should approach NCERT once again.
- Every candidate should submit an undertaking every year saying that they are not receiving any scholarship from any other sources. Candidates will not become eligible for the scholarship after getting a job.
- This scholarship is not available for studies abroad
- The scholarship will not be paid if a candidate leaves his or her course before completion.
- If the awardee fails to appear for the exam due to ill health, then he/she has to send the medical report through the principal within three months of his/her falling ill by Registered Medical Practitioner.
- Every year the scholarship holder should score an average of 60 % marks or equivalent grade to avail the scholarship. If a candidate scores less than 60 %, then the scholarship will be withheld for that year. He can claim the scholarship if he scores 60 % next academic year. If again he fails to score 60 % for two consecutive years then he/she will become ineligible for the scholarship.
- The awardee of a scholarship should score pass marks in all the subjects in the first attempt. Otherwise, s/he will become ineligible to get NTS scholarship forever.
- The scholarship will continue for PhD/D Phil degree is he/she passes MA/MSc/M com/MPhil course in the first attempt securing minimum 60 % marks. He should begin the doctoral work within six months of the declaration of master degree results.
- An awardee will get scholarship up to four years for a PhD.
National Talent Search Scheme – Scholarship Amount
The rates of scholarships were revised in the year 2014-15 and the revised amount is as followed
| Category | Scholarship( In INR Per Month) |
|---|---|
| Higher Secondary | 1,250 |
| Graduate and Post Graduate | 2,000 |
| For Ph.D. (Dour Years) | As per UGC norms |
National Talent Search Scheme – Contact Info
- For more details check here
- Website: www.ncert.nic.in
- Email: esdhead@gmail.com
Avail the benefits of National Talent Search Scheme to take your education dreams forward.
Also See
- Prabuddha Overseas Scholarship Scheme from the Government of Karnataka
- How To Get Educational Loans And Scholarships In Karnataka?
- How To Apply For A Free Seat Under The Right To Education (RTE) In Karnataka
- NIRF National Ranking 2019 – List Of Institutes Offering Quality Education In Karnataka
- Read Textbooks Online In Karnataka By Scanning The QR Code