The National Talent Scholarship (NTS) 2025, administered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, aims to promote higher agricultural education among talented students. This prestigious scholarship is awarded to students pursuing Master’s degree programs in ICAR-recognized agricultural universities located outside their state of domicile.
It supports meritorious students who have secured admission to these universities through the ICAR AIEEA-PG entrance examination and promotes the development of agricultural education in India under the scheme “Strengthening and Development of Higher Agricultural Education in India.”
Key Highlights
• Launched By: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (ICAR)
• Scholarship Name: National Talent Scholarship (Postgraduate)
• Applicable For: Students pursuing PG/Master’s Degree in Agriculture
• Scholarship Amount: ₹3,000 per month
• Mode of Study: Full-time postgraduate program in ICAR-recognized Agricultural Universities
• Mode of Application: Online through https://icar.nta.ac.in
Benefits
• ₹3,000 per month for the entire duration of the postgraduate degree (Master’s)
• Initially awarded for 1 year, renewable based on academic performance and conduct
• No contingency or additional allowances included
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the National Talent Scholarship (PG), the student must:
• Be admitted to a postgraduate (Master’s) program in an ICAR-recognized Agricultural University located outside their state of domicile
• Maintain merit, discipline, and regular attendance as certified by the Head of Institution
• Not engage in any job, agitation, strike, or prolonged unauthorized absence during the scholarship tenure
• Be a full-time regular student and not avail of any other scholarship during the study
• Do not withdraw or change subjects after the first month of admission
• Do not switch the subject for which the scholarship was awarded
Application Process (Online)
Students can apply online only through the official ICAR portal:
Step-by-Step Guide
- Visit the official website: https://icar.nta.ac.in
- Navigate to National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG)
- Complete the registration process using a valid email and mobile number
- Fill in the online application form with accurate academic and personal details
- Upload scanned documents as per instructions (see below)
- Pay the application fee, if applicable, and submit the form
- Keep a printout of the confirmation page for future reference
Offline applications are not accepted. Only the online form through the ICAR-NTA portal is valid.
Documents Required
Scanned images to be uploaded during online application:
• Passport-size photograph
• Signature
• Thumb impression
No certificates or academic documents need to be uploaded at the application stage. However, these may be required at the time of document verification or admission.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is there direct admission to ICAR AUs through nomination, without qualifying in AIEEA-UG/AIEEA-PG/AICE-JRF-SRF(PhD)?
There is no provision for direct nomination for admission through ICAR in any programme without
qualifying in AIEEA-UG/AIEEA-PG/AIAICE-JRF-SRFHDD. - What are the different modes to apply for AIEEA-UG/AIEEA-PG/AICE- JRF-SRF(PhD)?
Application Forms can only be submitted through online mode on the website https://icar.nta.ac.in. The Application Form, other than in online mode, will not be accepted - Can I submit more than one application form for the exam?
NO. Only ONE application is to be submitted by a candidate to appear in the exam. - How can I pay the Application Fee?
I carried out corrections and submitted. After submission, I found that still there is some more correction to be done. Can I do so?