The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which used to conduct the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), a national scholarship exam for class 10 students annually, has not done so since 2021. Many academically talented poor students pin their hopes on the NTSE monthly scholarship as it continues till they complete their studies.
The exam was scheduled and postponed in 2021, after many students had even paid the fees, due to the pandemic. NCERT has not been seeking applications since then.
“I applied for NTSE in 2021 when I was in class 10, and now I am doing my undergraduate studies, but the exam hasn’t been held till now, even as the country has passed over the pandemic crisis and all other national exams are being held regularly,” said Rajesh S., a student.
