National Talent Scholarship

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Pursuing a postgraduate degree in agriculture or allied sciences often involves moving to another state to study at a recognised agricultural university. To support students who take up this opportunity, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) provides the National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG). The scheme offers financial assistance of ₹5,000 per month to eligible students admitted to Master's programmes through the ICAR All India Quota (AIQ) at an eligible agricultural university outside their state of domicile. It aims to encourage inter-state mobility, promote access to quality agricultural education and support meritorious students during their postgraduate studies.

The scholarship is administered by the Agricultural Education Division of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. ICAR is responsible for coordinating agricultural education and research in the country. Students can find scheme-related information and official updates through the ICAR Agricultural Education and Human Resource Development section.

The NTS-PG is intended for students who secure admission to an eligible Master's programme through ICAR's All India Quota counselling and pursue their studies in a state other than their state of domicile. The scholarship is available at the rate of ₹5,000 per month for the eligible duration of the degree programme, subject to the prescribed academic performance and other conditions. Students must generally maintain an OGPA/CGPA of at least 7.00 out of 10.00, with a relaxation to 6.50 for SC/ST students, to continue receiving the scholarship. The benefit is meant to reduce the financial burden associated with pursuing postgraduate agricultural education away from home.

Students are considered for the scholarship through the ICAR admission and counselling process. There is no separate application for NTS-PG according to the official scheme FAQ. Candidates must appear in the relevant ICAR postgraduate entrance examination, participate in counselling and secure an eligible All India Quota seat outside their state of domicile. They should also follow the admission and scholarship-related instructions issued by ICAR and the allotted university.

Scheme Benefits

The National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG) provides monthly financial support to students who move to another state for postgraduate studies in agriculture and allied sciences. The main benefits of the scheme are:

• Eligible students receive a scholarship of ₹5,000 per month during the prescribed duration of their Master's degree programme.
• The scholarship helps students manage regular study-related and living expenses while studying at an agricultural university outside their state of domicile.
• It encourages students to pursue postgraduate education at eligible agricultural universities across India, rather than limiting their choices to institutions in their home state.
• Students can receive the scholarship throughout the eligible course period, provided they maintain the required academic performance and follow ICAR's scholarship conditions.
• Students from SC and ST categories receive a relaxation in the minimum academic performance requirement for continuing the scholarship.

The scholarship amount was revised from ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 per month with effect from the academic session 2018–19. The revised rate was approved through an ICAR office order dated 17 September 2018. Read the ICAR National Talent Scholarship guidelines.

Eligibility Requirements

Students pursuing a Master's degree in agriculture or allied sciences can receive the National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG) if they meet ICAR's admission and domicile requirements. The main eligibility conditions are:

• The student must secure admission to a Master's degree programme through the ICAR All India Entrance Examination and counselling process.
• Admission must be against an eligible ICAR All India Quota (AIQ) seat at a recognised agricultural university.
• The university where the student takes admission must be located in a state different from the student's state of domicile.
• The student must pursue an eligible postgraduate programme in agriculture or an allied science discipline covered under the scheme.
• Students admitted through a state-level entrance examination or a route other than the prescribed ICAR All India Quota process are not eligible under this condition.
• To continue receiving the scholarship, students must maintain a minimum OGPA/CGPA of 7.00 out of 10.00. The minimum requirement is relaxed to 6.50 out of 10.00 for SC/ST students.
• Students must maintain good academic performance and conduct and comply with the scholarship rules prescribed by ICAR and their university.
• Students receiving the ICAR Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS) cannot receive the NTS-PG scholarship at the same time.

Meeting the admission and domicile conditions makes a student eligible for consideration, but continuation of the scholarship depends on fulfilling the applicable academic and other conditions. Students should check the ICAR National Talent Scholarship guidelines and the latest National Scholarship Portal instructions for the relevant academic year.

Required Documents

Students considered for the National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG) should keep their admission and academic records ready for verification and scholarship processing. The documents and details that may be required include:

• ICAR NTS-PG award letter issued by ICAR, if applicable.
• ICAR All India Entrance Examination (PG) scorecard or rank details.
• Admission letter or proof of admission to the eligible Master's degree programme through ICAR All India Quota counselling.
• Domicile certificate or other valid proof of the student's state of domicile.
• Aadhaar card or other identity details required for scholarship verification.
• Bank account details for receiving scholarship payments through the applicable DBT process.
• Latest semester marksheets or OGPA/CGPA records, where required for continuation of the scholarship.
• SC/ST certificate, if applicable, to claim the prescribed relaxation in academic requirements.

The official ICAR FAQ specifically refers to the NTS-PG award letter. The remaining documents may be requested by the concerned university or through the applicable National Scholarship Portal process. Students should confirm the final document requirements with their university's scholarship section before submitting any details. Read the official ICAR NTS-PG FAQ.

Steps to Apply

Getting the National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG) starts with securing admission through ICAR's All India Quota counselling. Students do not need to submit a separate NTS-PG application according to ICAR's official FAQ. However, they should check the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and their university for any additional formalities required during the scholarship process.

• First, appear for the ICAR postgraduate entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). You can find examination notifications, application details and updates on the NTA ICAR examination portal.
• After the examination, visit the ICAR online counselling portal and complete the counselling registration using your examination details.
• During choice filling, select eligible Agricultural Universities located outside your state of domicile. Studying at an eligible university in another state is an important condition for receiving this scholarship.
• Once a seat is allotted, follow the instructions on the counselling portal to complete seat acceptance, document verification and admission formalities.
• After joining the university, contact its scholarship or NTS nodal officer. Confirm that your admission and domicile details have been recorded correctly for NTS-PG consideration.
• You can also check the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for NTS-PG-related instructions for the relevant academic year. If you are a new user, complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process if required. Existing users can sign in with their registered credentials.
• If the NSP or your university asks you to complete any additional scholarship formalities or submit documents, follow the instructions carefully. Keep your ICAR award letter, admission details and other required records ready.
• Finally, check with your university's scholarship section about verification and payment status. Respond to any query or request for additional information to avoid delays.

For the 2026–27 academic year, the National Scholarship Portal lists 30 November 2026 as the student application closing date for NTS-PG. However, ICAR's official FAQ states that eligible candidates are automatically considered and do not need to submit a separate NTS-PG application. To avoid confusion, students should check the instructions displayed on the NSP and confirm with their university whether any action is required from them.

Scholarship Continuation and Renewal Conditions

Receiving the National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG) for the first semester does not automatically guarantee payment throughout the Master's programme. Students must maintain the required academic performance and follow the conditions prescribed by ICAR and their university to continue receiving financial assistance.

The main conditions for continuing the scholarship include:

• Students must maintain a minimum OGPA/CGPA of 7.00 out of 10.00 in each semester. The minimum requirement is relaxed to 6.50 out of 10.00 for SC/ST students.
• Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress and good conduct throughout the course.
• They must complete their academic requirements and follow the rules of the university and ICAR.
• Students should not accept another scholarship or stipend where it is prohibited under the NTS conditions.
• Students must continue their studies in the approved programme and should not change their university or course without the required permission.

Under the ICAR guidelines, failure to meet the prescribed academic requirements or violation of scholarship conditions may lead to discontinuation of financial assistance. Students should check the applicable guidelines and consult their university's scholarship section if they have any doubts about continuation or renewal.

Difference Between NTS-PG and ICAR Postgraduate Scholarship

ICAR offers different types of financial assistance to postgraduate students. The National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG) and the ICAR Postgraduate Scholarship are separate scholarship categories with different eligibility conditions and benefits. Understanding the difference can help students identify the scholarship applicable to their admission.

Students should remember that both scholarships cannot be received together. As clarified in ICAR's scholarship information, candidates who are awarded the ICAR Postgraduate Scholarship are not eligible to receive the NTS-PG scholarship simultaneously. The applicable award depends on the student's admission and scholarship eligibility.

Relevant Links

• ICAR Agricultural Education and Human Resource Development Division
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
• ICAR AIEEA (PG) Examination Portal
• ICAR Online Counselling Portal
• National Talent Scholarship Guidelines
• ICAR NTS-PG Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Information

For queries about the National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG), students should first contact the scholarship or NTS nodal officer at their allotted Agricultural University. For matters requiring assistance from ICAR, they can contact the Agricultural Education Division using the details below:

Agricultural Education Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

• Phone: 11-25841760
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Division of Agricultural Education, Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan-II, Pusa, New Delhi – 110012, India

For issues related to NSP login, application status or portal services, students can also use the support and grievance options available on the National Scholarship Portal. Scholarship eligibility and payment-related queries should be directed to the concerned scheme authority or university nodal officer.