Application Process and Fees
Application Fees and Required Documents
NTSE status (checked 15 October 2026): NCERT has not conducted the National Talent Search Examination since the 2021 cycle. Its notice states that the National Talent Search Scheme was approved till 31 March 2021, and that further implementation of the scheme in its present form has not been approved and has been stalled till further orders. No NTSE 2026 notification has been issued. The details on this page come from NCERT's last official NTSE information brochure and are given for reference only.
Key Takeaways
Stage 1 fees, if any, were set by each State/UT.
Stage 2 was free of charge.
Category and disability certificates were needed to claim reservation.
NTSE Application Fee
NCERT's brochure allowed each State/UT to charge a fee for the Stage 1 exam and/or the application form, so the amount differed from state to state. There was no fee for Stage 2, which NCERT conducted. No NTSE 2026 fee has been announced, as the scheme is stalled.
Stage | Fee | Decided by |
|---|---|---|
Stage 1 (State/UT level) | As set by the State/UT | State/UT |
Stage 2 (National level) | No fee | NCERT |
Documents Required
Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
Application form signed by the Principal | Stage 1 registration |
Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC) | To claim reserved scholarships; OBC in the prescribed non-creamy layer format |
Disability certificate | To claim PwD reservation and exam facilities |
Class IX mark sheet (attested) | Required for Class X students abroad |
E-admit card | Entry to the Stage 2 exam |
NCERT asked Stage 2 qualifiers to submit category and disability certificates for verification before scholarships were awarded.
Important Points
Pay fees only through the official State/UT process.
Get certificates issued in the correct format well in advance.
Keep photocopies of every document you submit.
Pro Tip: Category certificates can take weeks to issue. Apply for them early so you are ready whenever an exam notice appears.
Source: NCERT NTSE Information Brochure (latest published edition).
Official Website
For authentic NTSE information, refer only to official NCERT resources:
NCERT NTSE page: ncert.nic.in/national-talent-examination.php
NTSE information brochure (last published): Download PDF
NTS scholarship portal: ntse.ncert.gov.in
Exam helpline (as listed by NCERT): 011-26560464, ntsexam.ncert@gov.in
Students should not pay any fee or share personal details on unofficial websites claiming to conduct NTSE.
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