Stage

Process Details

Stage 1 (State Level)

Conducted by respective State/UT Education Boards. Students who qualify Stage 1 are eligible for Stage 2.

Stage 2 (National Level)

Conducted by NCERT for students who clear Stage 1. The final selection is based on this stage.

Exam Format

Both stages include two papers:
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT) – 100 questions (120 mins)
2. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) – 100 questions (120 mins)

Qualifying Marks

General/OBC – 40% in each paper
SC/ST/PwD – 32% in each paper

Final Selection

The final NTSE merit list is prepared based on Stage 2 scores. The top-ranking students receive the NTSE scholarship.

Scholarship Benefits

₹1,250 per month for Class 11-12
₹2,000 per month for UG & PG
Ph.D. as per UGC norms

Feature

Details

Examination Dates

The Stage 1 exams are conducted in November 2024 (tentative). The exact dates are decided by the respective state/UT education boards.

Eligibility for State Level

- Students currently in Class 10 are eligible.
- No age limit for the NTSE Stage 1 exam.
- Students must be enrolled in recognized schools from any state/UT in India.
- Students of Open/Distance learning schools are also eligible if they fulfill the above criteria.

Exam Mode

The Stage 1 exam is usually offline (Pen & Paper-based).

Examination Pattern

- Mental Ability Test (MAT): 100 questions (120 minutes)
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): 100 questions (120 minutes)
- Both tests are objective in nature.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

- General/OBC Candidates: At least 40% in each paper.
- SC/ST/PwD Candidates: At least 32% in each paper.

Interview Process

- For Stage 1, there is no interview.
- The Stage 1 exam is only to qualify for Stage 2 (National Level).
- Stage 2 results will determine final selection.

Place of Interview (Stage 2)

- Stage 2 does not require an interview for NTSE selection.
- Students who qualify Stage 2 are selected based on their written exam scores.

Result Declaration

- Stage 1 results are typically announced by January-April 2025 (varies by state).

Scholarship Award

The NTSE Scholarship is awarded based on Stage 2 scores.

Feature

Details

Eligibility for TA

- TA is provided to candidates who qualify Stage 1 and are eligible to appear for Stage 2 (National Level).
- Only students from SC/ST or Physically Disabled (PwD) categories are generally eligible for travel allowance.

Covered Expenses

- Travel expenses for candidates to appear for Stage 2 are covered for train (second class) or bus travel, depending on the distance.
- Travel Allowance is usually provided for one-way travel from home to the examination center.

Mode of Reimbursement

- TA is reimbursed after the Stage 2 exam. The candidates are required to submit travel receipts to claim the allowance.

Required Documents

- Original travel tickets and receipts are required for reimbursement.
- Proof of category (SC/ST/PwD certificate).

TA Reimbursement Process

- Reimbursement is processed post-exam by NCERT or respective state liaison officers.
- Eligible candidates will be informed about the procedure via official notification.

Stage

Details

Stage 1 (State Level)

- Results for Stage 1 (State Level) are declared by the respective State/UT Education Boards.
- Result Date: Typically declared between January and April 2025 (specific dates vary by state).
- Students who qualify Stage 1 are eligible to appear for Stage 2.

Stage 2 (National Level)

- The final results for Stage 2 (National Level) are declared by NCERT.
- Result Date: Stage 2 results are generally released by August 2025.

Merit List

- Candidates who clear both the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) will be listed in the merit list.
- The merit list is based on the Stage 2 exam scores.

Scholarship Announcement

- After the results of Stage 2 are declared, the top-ranking students are awarded the NTSE scholarship.
- The scholarship is provided as a monthly stipend for the 11th & 12th grade, UG & PG courses, and for Ph.D. as per UGC norms.

Step

Details

1. Application for Rechecking

- If a candidate is not satisfied with their result or feels there has been an error in marking, they can apply for rechecking.
- The application for rechecking must be submitted to the respective State Liaison Officer (SLO) for Stage 1 results or to NCERT for Stage 2 results.

2. Time Period

- Candidates can apply for rechecking within a few weeks of the result declaration.
- The exact time frame is announced by the respective authorities.

3. Fee for Rechecking

- Some states may charge a nominal fee for rechecking.
- NCERT may also require a fee for rechecking Stage 2 results (if applicable).

4. Rechecking Procedure

- The authorities will review the answer sheets, check for any mistakes in marking or totaling, and verify if the correct answers were awarded marks.

5. Rechecking Outcome

- If there are any discrepancies found during rechecking, the result will be corrected accordingly.
- If no error is found, the original result stands.

6. Final Decision

- The decision on the rechecked result is final. Rechecking is done to ensure fairness and transparency.

7. Notification of Rechecked Results

- Once rechecking is completed, candidates will be notified of the revised results.