STSEState Talent Search Examination (Rajasthan model; several states run equivalents)
About STSE
State Talent Search Examinations are state-government scholarship exams modelled on the national NTSE, and they have grown in importance since NTSE’s suspension. Rajasthan’s STSE, conducted by the Board of Secondary Education in Ajmer, is the most prominent example: a single four-hour sitting combining mental-ability, language-comprehension and scholastic-aptitude sections for Class 10 and Class 12 students of the state.
Qualifiers earn monthly scholarships that continue into higher study, one-time cash incentives for category toppers, and graded merit certificates. Students outside Rajasthan should check their own state board or SCERT for the local equivalent, as names, patterns and scholarship amounts differ from state to state.
Accepted by: State merit scholarships — in Rajasthan, ₹1,250/month at Classes 11–12 and ₹2,000/month at UG/PG level, plus one-time incentives for state toppers and Distinction/Scholar certificates for 80%+ and 90%+ scorers
Official websiteSTSE eligibility
Regular Class 10 and Class 12 students of recognised schools in the conducting state (Rajasthan requires at least 50% in the preceding class)
STSE exam pattern
Sections
- Mental Ability Test (MAT) — 50 questions
- Language Comprehension Test (LCT) — 40 questions
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) — 90 questions across science, social science and humanities subjects
Marking scheme: None
STSE syllabus outline
- MAT: reasoning, logical and critical-thinking questions
- LCT: vocabulary, grammar and comprehension
- SAT: state-board syllabus of Classes 9–10 (for Class 10 entrants) or 11–12 (for Class 12 entrants)
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