NTSE Eligibility Criteria 2022

National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is conducted to scout academically talented students in Class X and award them scholarships for as long as they study. Those who are pursuing professional courses in Medicine, Engineering, Technology, Management and Law are awarded the scholarship tp to the second-degree level while those who are studying Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, Commerce, Languages, Fine Arts and Vocational Studies receive the scholarship up to PhD level.

Who is eligible to apply for the NTSE state-level examination?

All students studying in Class X in any recognised school of a state can appear in the NTSE Stage 1 exam of that state. The recognized schools may include Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya, etc. There are no domicile restrictions though.

States may impose other eligibility conditions for appearing in this screening examination, such as qualifying percentage of marks in the annual exam of Class IX etc.

Students registered under Open and Distance Learning (ODL) may also appear for the NTSE exam if they are below the age of 18 years on July 1 of the concerned year, appearing for the Class X exam for the first time, and are not employed.

Who is eligible to apply for the NTSE national-level examination?

All Indian nationals, whether studying in India or abroad, at Class X level can sit for the National Talent Search Examinations.

Candidates in India can only sit for the NTSE Stage 2 examination if they are selected through the NTSE Stage 1 examination which serves as a screening exam for the national-level exam.

Indian students studying abroad in Class X are exempted from the first-level screening test and can appear for the second-level National Talent Search Examination directly if they fulfil the following conditions:

1. They obtain 60% or more aggregate marks in the Class IX annual examination.
2. They can appear for the NTS examination at the designated centre in India at their own cost.
3. The student applies for NTSE through the Head of the Institution where he is studying along with an attested copy of their Class IX mark sheet latest by December 31 of the concerned year.

How much scholarship amount do students who qualify for NTSE get?

Students in higher secondary classes (Classes XI and XII) receive Rs 1,250 per month. Graduate and postgraduate students receive Rs 2,000 per month. Students pursuing PhD degree courses receive scholarships as per UGC norms for four years.

What are the eligibility conditions for receiving a scholarship under the NTSS (National Talent Search Scheme)?

A candidate who gets selected through the NTSE exam can only receive the scholarship if he or she:

• is enrolled in an approved course as a regular student on a full-time basis in India,
• does not get any other scholarship,
• does not take up any job where he or she gets a stipend, salary or any other form of remuneration,
• attends all classes and is never absent without proper leave, and
• is certified by the Head of the College or Institution for good conduct.

Every year, NTS scholarship awardees have to submit an undertaking that they are not receiving a scholarship or award from any other institution as well as one saying that they are not employed. If a student receives a scholarship from another source temporarily, the NTS scholarship is discontinued for that period. It may be resumed if the student approaches NCERT again to request it.

Students may still receive the scholarship if they get a fee waiver, one-time grant or fee subsidy, and residential accommodation from another institution though.

Some other eligibility conditions of the NTS scholarship

The NTS scholarships may get discontinued if:

• There is a gap of one academic session in studies at any time due to any reason.
• Students fail to pass all core subjects on the first attempt.
• Students fail to secure 60% or more marks in any year of the course. If students secure less than 60% in a year, they will not receive the scholarship for that year but if they secure less than 60% in two years of a course, the scholarship is discontinued forever.

Do note that if the scholarship is discontinued once, it cannot be revived under any circumstances.

Eligibility conditions HSC students need to fulfil

NTS scholarships at the higher secondary stage are awarded for two years - Class XI and XII - to students studying in India. It commences once one is promoted to Class XI successfully. Students must secure 60% or more in aggregate (or equivalent grades) every year to receive the scholarship. If they fail to do so for two years, their scholarship gets discontinued forever.

If the exam is not conducted at the end of Class XI for any reason, students may still receive the scholarship by submitting a certificate to this effect issued by the Head of the Institution.

Students pursuing diploma or certificate courses after Class X may also receive a scholarship if they are not employed.

Eligibility conditions undergraduate students need to fulfil

NTS scholarships for the first-degree level courses in Basic Sciences, Social Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Management or Law are awarded if the first-year students secure at least 60% marks in their Class XII board examination.

SC, ST or PH category students who get selected through JEE examination into the one-year preparatory course for B. Tech of the IITs will receive the scholarship in their first year if they satisfy all other conditions specified by respective IITs.

In the second and subsequent years of undergraduate courses, students receive NTS scholarship only if:

• They get 60% or more marks in aggregate in the internal exams every year. MBBS candidates can receive the scholarship during internship only if they secure 60% or more marks in their final degree.
• For IITs and other academic institutions that follow a semester system, CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) at the end of the academic year is considered for scholarship disbursement decisions.

Eligibility conditions postgraduate students need to fulfil

In second-degree level course courses, students receive NTS scholarship only if:

• They get 60% or more marks in aggregate every year. 
• For academic institutions that follow a semester system, CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) at the end of the academic year is considered for scholarship disbursement decisions.
• Students can avail of the scholarship for a Diploma course in Management or a specific branch of Medicine or Surgery if the minimum qualification to enter the course is a degree in the concerned discipline.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can an NTS scholarship be availed for a study abroad course?

No. Students cannot avail of an NTS scholarship to study abroad for any course.

2. How to claim the NTS scholarship?

An awardee has to submit claim bills for each year or each class separately. These bills can be submitted any time during the study period though.

3. What will happen to the scholarship if a student enrols in a course and leaves it later?

If an awardee leaves the course within one month of registering for a course or taking admission in a course, he or she will not receive any scholarship.

4. What if the student receiving the scholarship cannot attend the course due to serious illness?

If an awardee has an overall performance of 60% or above during the year, which has to be certified by the principal or the head of the institution, he or she can keep availing of the scholarship facility by submitting a medical certificate by a specialist (registered medical practitioner) through the Head of the Institution. This medical certificate should specify the duration of the illness and must be submitted within three months of the student falling ill.

5. Will I still receive an NTS scholarship if I change my subject in the undergraduate course?

Students are allowed to make one shift within one month of the end of the first year of their undergraduate course. This course can be in the same institution or another institution. However, in this case, students will not receive a scholarship for the first year of the new course. The scholarship can resume from the second year of their new course if they satisfy all other eligibility criteria.