<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (August 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national - level scholarship program as well as one of the oldest and most prestigious examinations in India conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERT at the Secondary school level to identify and recognize students with high intellect and academic talent . Introduced in 1963 with the objective of acknowledging intelligent students and nurturing their talent, the National Talent Search Examination is touted as one of the toughest exams held across India at the high - school level . Merely going through the prescribed school books is not enough to prepare for the exam . The skill - based assessment is based on the syllabi of different central and state education boards, and primarily focuses on measuring how well the students have learned the concepts and skills underlying the school syllabus . The examination is conducted every year at two levels: Stage - I (State Level) and Stage - II (National Level). </P> <P> An estimated 9, 00,000 - 10, 00,000 students of Class X appear for this scholarship exam every year for the 1st stage from which about 5000 are selected for the Stage 2 examination . It is held every year and aims at screening the most gifted students from the general lot--the students who have a special aptitude for Sciences, Mathematics, Social Sciences and, above all, questions based on analytical reasoning . The most important aspect of the exam is not the percentage a student scores but where he is placed in the descending order of merit list . This directly relates to one's cognitive skills and reasoning ability . </P> <P> This exam has undergone a lot of changes in recent years . Currently, from the year 2012 - 13, this exam is provided to Class X students only . </P>

How many students appeared for ntse stage 2 2018