ICAR National Talent Scholarship

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Choosing an Agricultural University outside the home state can give students the opportunity to study in a different academic environment and gain wider exposure to agriculture and allied sciences. To encourage such student mobility, the ICAR National Talent Scholarship (NTS) provides financial support to eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students admitted through the ICAR All India Quota. Under the scheme, eligible UG students receive ₹3,000 per month, while PG students receive ₹5,000 per month for the applicable duration of their degree, subject to the prescribed academic and other conditions. One of the most important conditions is that the student must take admission in an eligible Agricultural University located outside their state of domicile.

The scheme is implemented by 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. The scheme supports higher agricultural education by encouraging talented students to pursue their studies beyond their domicile state while promoting national integration and student mobility in agricultural education.

For undergraduate admission, the scholarship is linked with CUET (ICAR-UG) and the ICAR All India Quota admission process. For postgraduate students, NTS is linked to admission through the applicable ICAR postgraduate entrance and All India Quota process. NTS-PG is a separate scholarship from the ICAR Post Graduate Scholarship, which has its own eligibility and selection rules.

Scheme Benefits

The ICAR National Talent Scholarship provides monthly financial support to eligible students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through the ICAR All India Quota. The main benefits are:

• UG students receive ₹3,000 per month under NTS-UG.
• PG students receive ₹5,000 per month under NTS-PG.
• The scholarship is available for the entire duration of the degree programme, subject to the required academic performance and other conditions.
• The scholarship helps reduce the financial burden on students studying in an Agricultural University outside their domicile state.
• The scholarship is processed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and paid through the applicable Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
• No separate contingency or book grant is provided under NTS.

Eligibility Requirements

Students must meet the admission, domicile, academic, and other conditions prescribed under the ICAR National Talent Scholarship. The main eligibility requirements are:

• The student must be admitted through the ICAR All India Quota (AIQ) admission process.
• For UG courses, admission must be through CUET (ICAR-UG) under the ICAR AIQ seats.
• For PG courses, admission must be through the applicable ICAR postgraduate entrance route under ICAR AIQ seats.
• The student must take admission in an eligible Agricultural University located outside their state of domicile.
• The student must be pursuing an eligible full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme in agriculture and allied sciences.
• Students admitted through a State Agricultural University's own entrance examination are not eligible for NTS.
• The student must maintain the prescribed academic performance for continuation of the scholarship.
• A minimum OGPA/CGPA of 7.00 out of 10.00 is required for continuation, with a relaxation to 6.50 out of 10.00 for SC/ST students, subject to applicable conditions.
• The student must maintain good conduct and follow the rules of the concerned Agricultural University.
• The student must study on a full-time basis and comply with the applicable conditions regarding employment and other scholarship or stipend support.
• The student should not change the allotted university or subject/discipline in violation of the applicable ICAR scholarship rules.

Required Documents

Eligible students should keep the following documents and details ready for scholarship verification and processing. The exact requirements may vary depending on the NSP application and the concerned Agricultural University.

• ICAR NTS award letter, if issued
• Proof of admission through the ICAR All India Quota
• Domicile certificate or other valid proof of domicile
• Aadhaar card or other identity document as required by NSP
• Bank account details for scholarship payment through DBT
• Academic marksheets or OGPA/CGPA records for renewal
• SC/ST category certificate, if applicable
• Admission or joining report, if required by the university or NSP

Steps to Apply

The ICAR National Talent Scholarship does not have a separate admission form for students. Eligibility is linked to the ICAR All India Quota admission process, while the scholarship is processed through the National Scholarship Portal after admission. Students can follow these steps:

• For undergraduate admission, appear for CUET (ICAR-UG) conducted through the National Testing Agency (NTA). For postgraduate admission, appear for the applicable ICAR postgraduate entrance examination.
• Take part in the ICAR counselling process and choose an eligible Agricultural University outside your domicile state. The NTS benefit is linked to admission through the ICAR All India Quota.
• After receiving an AIQ seat, complete the admission and joining formalities at the allotted Agricultural University. Keep the admission and joining documents safely for scholarship verification.
• Once your eligibility for NTS is established, complete the required scholarship formalities on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). If you are a new NSP user, complete the required One Time Registration (OTR) process before proceeding with the scholarship application.
• Sign in to NSP using your OTR details and follow the scholarship application section to complete any NTS-related requirements shown for your academic year. Enter your personal, academic and bank details carefully and upload the documents requested on the portal.
• Submit the required details for verification. Your Agricultural University checks the submitted information and supporting documents before the scholarship is processed further.
• After successful verification and approval, the scholarship amount is released through the applicable Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to the student's bank account.
• For renewal in subsequent years, continue meeting the academic and other conditions prescribed for NTS. If any information or document changes, update it through the applicable NSP or university process.

Students facing difficulty with NTS eligibility, award-letter processing or scholarship payment should first contact the scholarship or NTS nodal officer at their Agricultural University. For issues related specifically to the NSP application or payment process, assistance can also be sought through the National Scholarship Portal.

ICAR NTS Renewal Rules

The ICAR National Talent Scholarship continues beyond the first year only when the student maintains the required academic performance and follows the scholarship conditions. Students should therefore check their academic record and scholarship status before each renewal cycle.

• The student must maintain a minimum OGPA/CGPA of 7.00 out of 10.00 for continuation of the scholarship.
• For SC/ST students, the prescribed minimum is 6.50 out of 10.00, subject to the applicable scholarship conditions.
• The student must continue the approved degree programme on a full-time basis.
• Good conduct, regular academic participation and compliance with the rules of the Agricultural University are required.
• The scholarship is continued for the remaining duration of the degree only when the prescribed renewal conditions are met.
• Students should not receive another scholarship, fellowship or stipend where the NTS rules prohibit simultaneous financial assistance.
• Changing the allotted university or subject without following the applicable ICAR rules can affect continuation of the scholarship.
• Students should complete the required NSP renewal and verification formalities within the notified period whenever renewal is required through the portal.

ICAR NTS vs ICAR PG Scholarship

ICAR National Talent Scholarship and ICAR Post Graduate Scholarship are separate scholarship schemes. Both are available through the ICAR higher agricultural education system, but their eligibility, purpose and scholarship amount are different. Students should check the specific scheme under which they are awarded instead of treating the two scholarships as the same.

The National Scholarship Portal lists ICAR National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG) and ICAR Post Graduate Scholarship (PGS) as separate merit-based schemes for 2026-27. Students should follow the award and eligibility conditions of the particular scheme applicable to them.

Important Dates

For the 2026-27 academic year, ICAR NTS-UG and NTS-PG are listed separately on the National Scholarship Portal. Students should complete their scholarship formalities within the dates notified by NSP because verification continues after the student application window closes.

These dates are for the 2026-27 NSP cycle and may be revised by the authorities. Students should check the National Scholarship Portal for the latest status before submitting or completing their application.

Relevant Links

• ICAR Official Website
• ICAR Agricultural Education Portal
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
• ICAR National Talent Scholarship (NTS-UG) FAQ
• ICAR National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG) FAQ
• ICAR National Talent Scholarship Guidelines
• ICAR Education Division Guidelines and Notifications
• ICAR Entrance Examination Portal 

Contact Information

For questions related to ICAR National Talent Scholarship, students should first contact the scholarship or NTS nodal officer at their concerned Agricultural University. For matters requiring ICAR-level assistance, the Agricultural Education Division of ICAR is the relevant authority.

Agricultural Education Division, ICAR

• Phone: 01125841760
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Agricultural Education Division, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan-II, Pusa, New Delhi-110012

For issues specifically related to scholarship applications, verification or payment on the National Scholarship Portal, students should also use the support options available on the National Scholarship Portal .