National Talent Search Scheme is a flagship activity of the NCERT started in the year 1963. The purpose of the scheme was to identify talented students and nurture their talent. Talent refers to the potentiality that manifests itself in a high level of performance in one or more specialized areas. The scheme, therefore, covers areas like Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Management and Law. It honours and helps talented students by providing financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship. For the courses in Basic Sciences, Social Sciences and Commerce, this assistance is provided up to Ph.D. level. For professional courses like Engineering, Medicine, Management and Law this assistance is given only up to Post Graduation. From the selection year 2012, the NCERT will conduct the National Talent Search Examination for students studying in Class VIII only.

The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national level scholarship program in India to Identify and Nurture talented students. It honours and helps talented students by providing financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship for a entire academic career. The scheme's official name is National Science Talent Search (NSTS), and is open to student of Indian National only. Students studying in class VIII standard are eligible to appear for the selection process. There is a two-stage selection process for award of scholarship. For Stage I, selection will be done by States/UTs through the written examination. Each State/Union Territory has been alloted a quota to recommend a specific number of candidates for the Stage II examination. The details of which are available on NCERT website "https://www.ncert.nic.in".

Students who qualify Stage I will be eligible to appear for Stage II examination conducted by National Council Of Educational Research And Training ( NCERT ) New Delhi.

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.

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 subjects.