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B BA AS SE EL LI IO OS S M MA AR RT TH HO OM MA A M MA AT TH HE EW WS S I II I
T TR RA AI IN NI IN NG G C CO OL LL LE EG GE E
K KO OT TT TA AR RA AK KA AR RA A
2 20 01 13 3 - - 2 20 01 14 4

O ON NL LI IN NE E A AS SS SI IG GN NM ME EN NT T



NAME : ANSU P JOSEPH
OPTIONAL SUBJECT: PHYSICAL SCIENCE
CANDIDATE CODE : 13350006
SUBJECT CODE : EDU 201.1
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TOPIC: NATIONAL SCIENCE TALENT
SEARCH SCHEME (NSTSS)
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I IN ND DE EX X

S SL L. .N NO O. . C CO ON NT TE EN NT TS S P PA AG GE E N NO O. .
1 1. . I IN NT TR RO OD DU UC CT TI IO ON N 4 4
2 2. . I IM MP PO OR RT TA AN NC CE E O OF F T TH HE E S SC CH HE EM ME E 4 4
3 3. . O OB BJ JE EC CT TI IV VE ES S O OF F T TH HE E S SC CH HE EM ME E 5 5
4 4. . N NA AT TI IO ON NA AL L T TA AL LE EN NT T S SE EA AR RC CH H E EX XA AM MI IN NA AT TI IO ON N 5 5
5 5. .
T TH HE E F FO OL LL LO OW W- -U UP P P PR RO OG GR RA AM MM ME E F FO OR R T TH HE E
A AW WA AR RD DE EE ES S
7 7
6 6. . C CO ON NC CL LU US SI IO ON N 9 9
7 7. . R RE EF FE ER RE EN NC CE ES S 9 9
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N NA AT TI IO ON NA AL L S SC CI IE EN NC CE E T TA AL LE EN NT T S SE EA AR RC CH H S SC CH HE EM ME E
( (N NS ST TS SS S) )


INTRODUCTION
Knowledge explosion always widen the gap between science education and the
existing knowledge. During the middle of the 19
th
century, people all over the world, began
to feel the necessity of updating science education. Educational experts, academic scholars,
administrators and even the public started to question the utility of the prevailing
impoverished education. Their efforts became successful and new curricular programmes to
suit the new space age were developed. Consequently, propagation of several techniques
which we call Revolution in science teaching took place in most of the western countries,
especially in America and England. This wave had its effect in India too. The National
Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was established in 1961 with a
view to change the texture of education in the country special attention was given to Science
Education, in particular. NSTSS was one of the major areas of attention of the NCERT. This
aimed at identifying the gifted students in science at the secondary stage. One of the reasons
for locating talent at the secondary stage is that attitudes tend to germinate between the ages
12+ and 14+ and tend to mature by about 18+.
IMPORTANCE OF THE SCHEME
The scheme is under the control of the NCERT. As a pilot project, the scheme was
first tried out in the union territory of Delhi in 1963. In the succeeding year it was extended
all over the country. Under this scheme about 350 scholars are selected every year. In the
beginning, the scheme was open only to students of Science and Mathematics. Later it was
extended to the Social Science subjects such as History, Geography, Political Science,
Economics, etc. The scheme consists of two parts:

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a) National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) held every year all over the country.
b) Follow up programmes of the Awardees of the NTSE.
OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME
The main objectives of the scheme are:
1. To identify boys and girls at the close of the secondary stage, who possess a marked
aptitude for Science and Mathematics.
2. To stimulate scientific talent by a competitive process leading to recognition of merit.
3. To help such students to pursue courses in Basic Sciences by the award of
scholarships from B.Sc to Ph.D levels.
4. To provide special programmes in Science to such scholars with a view to nurture
their talent.
5. To encourage schools to take more active interest in the search for scientific ability.
6. To help in building up a body of scientists who will contribute to the scientific
advancement of India both in pure and applied fields.


a. NATIONAL TALENT SEARCH EXAMINATION

I. Eligibility
Any regular student studying in class X or XI or XII at the end of which
he/she shall take a public examination, is eligible to appear in the NTS
examination.
Students who have entered into any type of degree courses are not eligible.
Students of pre-Engg. And pre-Medicine course, wherever this class is
equivalent to the first year of the three year degree course are not eligible.
A candidate can appear only once in a particular examination. However, he
can take the examination for the subsequent classes at the appropriate time.
There is no fee for the examination.

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The application forms are available in most of the schools. They can also be had from the
Field Adviser of the NCERT in the State/Territory concerned or the Section Officer of the
National Talent Search Unit, NCERT, Sri.Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi- 16. It can also be
downloaded from NCERT website <http://www.ncert.nic.in>
II. Selection
The selection for NTS scholarship is through the NTS examination which consists of the
following.
Aptitude test based on
a. General mental ability test (MAT) containing test items on reasoning,
analysis, synthesis, etc.
b. Scholastic aptitude test (SAT) containing objective items in basic sciences
and social sciences.
Essay
Project report on a specific topic
Interview
III. Scholarship
Scholarships are available for studies in India up to the undergraduate level and at higher
levels, both in India and abroad. The scholarship is paid through the institution where the
awardee shall be studying.
Continuation of scholarships is subject to the maintenance of such academic excellence as
may be prescribed by the NCERT from time to time. An awardee will not be eligible for
scholarships if he/she fails in the class for which he/she is taking NTS examination or any
subsequent class or discontinues studies as a regular student.
IV. Rates of Scholarship
The following table shows the number of scholarships and the value of scholarships for
different levels.

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Name of
Examination
No. of
Scholarships
Rate of Scholarship
CLASS X





250 i. Rs.150/- p.m. 2 years + Rs.200/- p.a. for
books.
ii. Rs. 200/-p.m. upto the second degree in Basic
and Social Sciences and first degree in
Engineering and Medicine + Rs.300/-p.a. for
books

CLASS XI 100 i. Rs.150/-p.m. for one year + Rs.300/- p.a. for
books.
ii. Rs.200/- p.m. upto second degree in Basic and
Social Sciences and first degree in Engineering
and Medicine + Rs.300/- p.a. for books.
CLASS XII 150 i. Rs.200/-p.m. upto second degree in Basic and
Social Sciences and first degree in Engineering
and Medicines + Rs.300/-p.a. for books.



b. THE FOLLOW-UP PROGRAMME FOR THE
AWARDEES
The follow-up programmes are:
1. Detailed cumulative record of each awardee is prepared
2. Workshop and seminars are organised
3. Summer schools for the awardees are conducted


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Summer schools for National Talent Search Scholars
In order to explore and develop the talents of the awardees of NSTS, summer schools
were started in 1965. The NSTS scholars are attached to renowned professors of respective
subjects in different universities during the summer vacations. The main objectives are:

1. To establish inter-personal contact between the teachers and the taught
2. To enable the talented students to develop their intellectual potentialities in best
possible way
3. To motivate the experimental curiosity of the students so as to stimulate the
creativity and research spirit
4. To enable the promising students to exchange views with their class-fellows and
thus to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of each others views
5. To enable the talented students to develop new basic concepts in their fields of
specialization
6. To encourage the scholars to pinpoint their academic interests and aptitudes
7. To produce an accelerated programme of science education
8. To make the teachers design accelerated courses for awardees
9. To enable the awardees to develop a better understanding of the basic concepts and
recent developments in the subject
10. To assist the awardees to conduct experiments, wherever possible, with simple and
improvised apparatus and to encourage them to adopt the innovative approaches in
their day-to-day life.

The programme of the summer schools for NTS scholar includes lecturers by specialists
on modern aspects and developments in different sciences, laboratory work, project work,
excursions to places of scientific and industrial importance, discussions and workshop
practice. Film shows are invariably organized to facilitate the learning process and keep up
the interest of the students.

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CONCLUSION
National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Government of India
is conducting a program National Science Talent Search scheme (NSTSS) to identify and
recognise students with high intellect and academic talent. It is one of the most prestigious
scheme introduced in India by the NCERT. The scheme mainly aimed
To create a consciousness for improving the syllabi of science subjects, methods of
teaching and evaluation techniques.
To provide colleges, universities and technical institutions with a means of contacting
science students of high ability.
To mobilise the interest and support of higher centres of learning and other science
agencies for the development of scientific talents.
Thus NSTSS become successful in fostering scientific attitude in students and thereby
promote the development of science in our country.

REFERENCES
Sivarajan, K and Faziludeen. A(2008 6
th
edition) Science Education- Methodology of
teaching and pedagogic analysis, Calicut university
http://www.ncert.nic.in/programmes/talent_exam/index_talent. html
http://www.cyclopaedia.info/wiki/National-Science-Talent-Search-Scheme
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Talent_Search_ Examination
http://www.allen.ac.in/pre_nurture/variousexam/ntse.asp
http://ntse.testbag.com/exam-analysis.php?tp=4
http://pettytips.com/ncert-nstss-ntse-scholarshipnational-science-talent-search-
scheme/