National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national-level scholarship program in the Indian Union to identify and recognize students with high intellect and academic talent.
Students studying in Class X are eligible to appear for the selection process.
As it is organized by an official body (NCERT), it is widely regarded by the Government of India as the most prestigious and the most difficult examination at secondary level in the country.
The selection of candidates for the awards became a two-tier process.
Stage-1
The states and the union territories have been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the first tier screening examination known as State Level Talent Search Examination.
Stage-2
Each state and union territory selects and recommended a stipulated number (state quota) of candidates for the national level examination to be conducted for about 5000 candidates by the NCERT.
The students who qualify second stage are eligible for scholarship. The scholarship is provided immediately after the result.
Source: Wikipedia