NTSE 2026 Cutoff
Full pageNTSE 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
There is no NTSE 2026 cutoff, because no NTSE 2026 exam has been held.
Qualifying marks were 40% (General/OBC) and 32% (SC/ST/PwD) in each paper.
Actual cutoffs varied by State/UT and category.
NTSE 2026 Cutoff
A cutoff is the lowest score at which candidates were selected. Since NCERT has not conducted NTSE since 2021, no NTSE 2026 cutoff exists. Any "expected NTSE 2026 cutoff" figures online are guesses, not official data.
Qualifying Marks vs Cutoff
Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
Qualifying marks | The minimum score needed in each paper to be considered: 40% for General/OBC and 32% for SC/ST/PwD |
Stage 1 cutoff | The last selected score within each State/UT quota and category, set by the State/UT |
Stage 2 cutoff | The last selected combined MAT + SAT score in NCERT's national merit list, by category |
Factors That Affected NTSE Cutoffs
State/UT quota (based on Class IX–X enrolment)
Category-wise reservation
Number of candidates and difficulty of the paper
Performance of candidates in the State/UT
Official Past Cutoff Documents
NCERT's NTSE page lists past results and cutoff documents, including the NTSE 2020 cut-off marks and the 2021 Stage 2 final result. Refer to these for actual historical data.
Related: Marking Scheme and Qualifying Marks · Results and Scorecard
Pro Tip: Aim well above the qualifying marks. Clearing 40% only makes you eligible; selection depends on how you rank within your quota.
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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