NATIONAL TALENT SEARCH SCHEME
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The National Council of Educational Research and Training
(NCERT) was established by the Government of India in
the year 1961 with a view to bringing about qualitative
improvement in school education in the country. No sooner
the Council was set up than it mounted a number of
programmes in this direction. One such programme was
to identify and nurture the talented students. This
programme took up the shape of a scheme called National
Science Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) in the year 1963
which provided for the identification of talented students
and awarding them with scholarships. During the first year
of the implementation of the scheme, it was confined to
the Union Territory of Delhi wherein only 10 scholarships
were awarded to the Class XI students.
In the year 1964 the scheme was extended to all the
states and the union territories in the country with 350
scholarships for the students of Class XI. These
scholarships were awarded on the basis of a written
examination, a project report and interview. The written
examination comprised the Science Aptitude Test and
an Essay on a given scientific theme. The candidates were
to submit the project report at the time of the written
examination. A stipulated number of candidates selected
on the basis of these three components were then
subjected to personal interview. The performance of the
candidates on these four components was eventually
employed for the purpose of awarding scholarships.
These
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scholarships were awarded for pursuing education only
in basic sciences up to doctoral level.
Consequent upon the introduction of 10+2+3 pattern
of education, the NSTS scheme also underwent a change
in the year 1976. It was no longer confined to only basic
sciences but was extended to social sciences, engineering
and medicine as well. It was renamed as National Talent
Search Scheme (NTSS). Since the education system in
the country was undergoing a change, the scheme was
made open to the students of Classes X, XI and XII and
separate examinations were conducted for each class. The
number of scholarships was raised to 500. The selection
procedure was also changed. Now the candidates were
subjected to two objective type written tests namely the
Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude
Test (SAT). A stipulated number of candidates qualifying
these two tests were subjected to face-to-face interview.
The final awards were made on the basis of composite
scores obtained in the MAT, the SAT and the interview.
The number of scholarships was again enhanced from
500 to 550 in the year 1981. These 50 scholarships were
exclusively meant for Scheduled Castes (SC) and
Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates. The number of
scholarships was once again escalated to 750 in the year
1983 with a provision of 70 scholarships especially for
SC/ST candidates. This arrangement continued until the
scheme was decentralised in the year 1985. In the year
2000, the number of scholarships was raised from 750
to 1000 with the provision of reservation for SC and ST
candidates based on the national norms of 15 per cent
and 7½ per cent respectively.
Yet another change in the scheme has been made in
the year 2006 wherein the NTS examination will now be
held at the end of Class VIII.
However, the NCERT will
conduct two more examinations for Class X students in
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the selection year 2007 and 2008 in order to give on
opportunity to those who are presently in Classes X and
IX. From the 2008 examination, a provision of 3 per cent
reservation has been made for physically handicapped.
2. METAMORPHOSIS OF THE SCHEME
An experience of over two decades of the scheme brought
it to the forefront that a large number of scholarships
were restricted to certain pockets of the country and many
areas remained unrepresentative. In the light of this, the
scheme was recast in 1985.
The scheme, which until now was completely centralised,
was partially decentralised and was confined to only Class
X. Under the new arrangement the selection of candidates
for the awards became a two-tier process. The states and
the union territories were entrusted with the responsibility
of conducting the first tier screening examination known
as State Level Talent Search Examination. Each state and
union territory was to select and recommend a stipulated
number (state quota) of candidates for the national level
examination to be conducted for about 3000 candidates
by the NCERT.
The number of scholarships, however still
continued to be 750 including 70 for SC/ST candidates.
The state and the union territory quota was to be
computed proportionately on the basis of the student
enrolment at secondary level with a minimum of 10 for a
union territory and 25 for a state and a maximum of 500
for either of the two. This quota was to be reviewed every
three years.
The states had complete autonomy to design and conduct
their written examinations. However, they were advised to
follow the national pattern which comprised MAT and SAT.
The MAT, which consisted of 100 multiple choice type
questions, was to be attempted by all the candidates. The
SAT consisted of 25 multiple choice type questions each on
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eight subject areas namely Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry,
Biology, History, Geography, Civics and Economics. The
candidates could choose any four out of these eight subjects
and had to answer a total of 100 questions in the SAT.
A stipulated number of candidates who qualified at the
national level examination were called for face-to-face interview.
The award of scholarships was finally determined on the
basis of the candidates’ scores obtained in all the three
components namely the MAT, the SAT and the Interview.
A crucial modification in the scheme was again made
in the year 1995 when the provision of choice in the SAT
was abolished and all the subjects were made compulsory.
These subjects were Science, Social Science and
Mathematics with 40, 40 and 20 questions respectively.
In the year 2000 the number of scholarships was raised
from 750 to 1000.
A major change in the scheme came in 2006, The
following modifications have been made in the scheme.
v The scheme has been brought down from Class X
to Class VIII.
v The National Talent Search examination will be
held at the end of Class VIII from the year 2007
onwards.
v The Class VIII MAT and SAT will consist of 90
questions each.
v SAT will have 35 questions for Social Science,
35 for Science and 20 for Mathematics.
v Quota for a state will be computed proportionally
on the basis of student enrolment in Classes VII
and VIII.
v The amount of scholarship has been enhanced
to Rs 500/- per month for all the students
studying in Class IX onwards (irrespective of the
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class/course) except for Ph.D., wherein it is paid
as per UGC norms.
v The criterion of parental income for deciding
payment of scholarship has been discontinued.
v Book grant has also been discontinued.
v From the 2008 examiniation, a provision of
3 per cent reservation has been made for
physically handicapped.
The scholarships under the present scheme are
awarded to the candidates for pursuing courses in
sciences and social sciences up to doctoral level and in
professional courses like medicine and engineering up
to second-degree level subject to the fulfillment of the
conditions provided in this brochure.
Further details of the scheme are given in the
subsequent pages.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Identification of talent comprises two-stage selection
process. While the individual State/UT conducts the first
stage selection, the second stage selection at the national
level is carried out by the NCERT.
3.1 State Level Examination
Each State/UT conducts its own examination. They have
the autonomy to lay down their own norms for the purposes
of determining the eligibility of the candidates. This
examination is primarily used to recommend a given number
of candidates for the second level test to be conducted by
the NCERT. This number is based on the enrolment of
students at Classes VII and VIII in different States/UTs.
The candidates are to be recommended on the basis of the
merit in the written examination conducted by the States/
UTs.
The details of the number of candidates for different
States/UTs as applicable will be notified separately.
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The state level screening examination is conducted in
all States/UTs on second Sunday of November except in
Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Meghalaya and
Mizoram where it will be conducted on second Saturday
of November every year until and unless some special
circumstances occur.
The addresses of the Liaison Officers of each State/UT
are given in Appendix with whom information about state
level examination may be sought.
