The Tamil Nadu Rural Students Talent Search Examination (TRUST Exam 2026–2027 / ஊரகத் திறனாய்வுத் தேர்வு) is conducted annually by the Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE), Tamil Nadu to identify and nurture meritorious rural students studying in Class 9 (9-ஆம் வகுப்பு) across government, government-aided, and recognized rural schools. Under this esteemed state welfare initiative, 100 talented rural scholars (50 boys and 50 girls) per educational district are selected to receive an annual educational grant of ₹1,000 per year for four continuous years from Class 9 through Class 12 (cumulating to ₹4,000).
The TRUST scholarship exam serves as the high school companion to the centrally sponsored TN NMMS Scholarship Exam (Class 8). To qualify, students must master core foundational subjects including Mathematics (கணிதம்), Science (அறிவியல்), and Social Science (சமூக அறிவியல்) using official Samacheer Kalvi 9th Standard Textbooks and 8th Standard Textbooks. This comprehensive official guide provides complete eligibility criteria, income limits, exam pattern, online application procedures for school Headmasters, and verified model question papers with answer keys.
தமிழ்நாடு 9-ஆம் வகுப்பு ஊரகத் திறனாய்வுத் தேர்வு (TRUST Exam 2026–2027) — ₹4,000 கல்வி உதவித்தொகை; தகுதி வரம்புகள், தேர்வு முறை, பாடத்திட்டம் மற்றும் மாதிரி வினாத்தாள்கள் முழு விவரங்கள் கீழே கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.
📥 Download TRUST Model Papers: Access previous years’ solved question booklets and answer keys here → Class 8 & 9 Question Papers Archive | Check companion Class 8 scheme → TN NMMS Class 8 Scholarship Guide.
Overview
| Conducting Authority (நடத்தும் துறை) | Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE), Tamil Nadu |
|---|---|
| Examination Name (தேர்வின் பெயர்) | TN Rural Students Talent Search Examination (TRUST / ஊரகத் திறனாய்வுத் தேர்வு) |
| Target Class (வகுப்பு) | Class 9 (ஒன்பதாம் வகுப்பு ஊரகப் பள்ளி மாணவர்கள்) |
| Target Beneficiaries (பயனாளிகள்) | 100 students per educational district (50 Boys + 50 Girls) |
| Scholarship Amount (உதவித்தொகை) | ₹1,000 per year for 4 years (Total ₹4,000 from Class 9 to Class 12) |
| Parental Annual Income Limit | Up to ₹1,00,000 per annum (வருமான வரம்பு ஆண்டுக்கு ஒரு லட்சம் வரை) |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | 50% marks in Class 8 annual examinations (45% for SC / ST) |
| Exam Pattern (தேர்வு முறை) | Offline OMR-Based (100 MCQs = 25 MAT + 75 SAT; Duration: 2 Hours) |
| Negative Marking | No Negative Marking (தவறான விடைகளுக்கு மதிப்பெண் குறைப்பு இல்லை) |
| Application Mode (விண்ணப்பிக்கும் முறை) | Online through School Headmasters at dge.tn.gov.in |
| Official Portal (இணையதளம்) | dge.tn.gov.in |
What is the TN TRUST Examination? (ஊரகத் திறனாய்வுத் தேர்வு என்றால் என்ன?)
The Tamil Nadu Rural Students Talent Search Examination (TRUST) was instituted to discover, nurture, and financially support bright students residing and studying in rural parts of the state:
- Rural Focus: Only students studying in schools located in Village Panchayats (கிராம ஊராட்சிகள்) or designated rural educational zones are eligible. Students in schools situated within Municipalities or Municipal Corporations are not eligible.
- Merit-Based Financial Aid: Selection is based purely on a competitive written test conducted simultaneously across designated taluk-level examination centres.
- Long-Term Scholarship: Selected scholars receive ₹1,000 annually throughout Class 9, Class 10, Class 11, and Class 12, directly credited to their bank accounts.
Eligibility Criteria & Income Limits (தகுதி வரம்புகள்)
Students seeking to appear for the TRUST Exam 2026 must satisfy the following conditions:
| Criteria (தகுதி நிபந்தனை) | Requirement Details (விவரங்கள்) |
|---|---|
| Current Standard (வகுப்பு) | Currently studying in Class 9 in a recognized school during academic year 2026–2027 |
| Previous Academic Performance | Secured at least 50% marks in Class 8 annual examinations (45% for SC / ST students) |
| School Location (பள்ளி அமைவிடம்) | Must be situated in a Rural / Village Panchayat area (கிராம ஊராட்சிப் பகுதி) |
| Parental Annual Income (குடும்ப வருமானம்) | Annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹1,00,000 per annum |
| Income Certificate (வருமானச் சான்றிதழ்) | Valid certificate issued by a competent Revenue authority (Tahsildar / Zonal Deputy Tahsildar) |
Exam Pattern & Syllabus Portions (தேர்வு முறை மற்றும் பாடத்திட்டம்)
The TRUST Examination is a single-session objective offline test comprising two distinct sections:
- Mental Ability Test (MAT — மனத்திறன் தேர்வு): 25 questions testing logical reasoning, numerical patterns, analogies, and coding-decoding.
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT — படிப்பறிவுத் தேர்வு): 75 questions based on Samacheer Kalvi Class 8 syllabus and Class 9 first term portions in Mathematics (25 marks), Science (25 marks), and Social Science (25 marks).
- Total Marks & Duration: 100 questions, 100 marks, duration 2 hours (120 minutes). There is no negative marking.
- Medium of Exam: Question papers are bilingual (Tamil and English).
Students can prepare using our Class 8 & 9 Question Papers Archive and standard Samacheer Kalvi School Textbooks.
Step-by-Step Online Application Procedure for School HMs (பள்ளிகள் விண்ணப்பிக்கும் முறை)
Individual students cannot apply directly; all applications must be submitted by the respective School Headmaster:
- The school Headmaster accesses the DGE examination portal at dge.tn.gov.in.
- Log in using the school’s unique EMIS / DGE user credentials.
- Under the “TRUST Examination 2026” tab, enter the student’s EMIS number to auto-populate basic bio-data.
- Upload the candidate’s passport-size photo and enter parental income certificate details.
- Collect the prescribed exam fee of ₹10 (ten rupees) per student from applicants and generate the consolidated payment challan.
- Submit the application before the prescribed deadline and download the summary confirmation report.
TRUST Exam Model Question Papers & Answer Keys (மாதிரி வினாத்தாள்கள்)
Practicing authentic previous question papers is essential for cracking the 100-mark TRUST test:
| Resource / Study Bank (பாடப்பொருள்) | Contents & Key Details | Access Link (பதிவிறக்க இணைப்பு) |
|---|---|---|
| TRUST Exam Model Question Paper Set | DGE pattern MAT (25) & SAT (75) questions with keys | 📥 Download TRUST Model Paper PDF |
| Class 8 & 9 Question Papers Archive | Complete school examination question banks | View Classes 8 & 9 Papers Hub |
| TN NMMS Class 8 Scholarship Guide | Centrally sponsored ₹48,000 scholarship companion | View NMMS Scheme Guide |
| NMMS Previous Years Solved Papers | Original 2020–2024 DGE question booklets & keys | Download NMMS Papers Archive |
| Samacheer Kalvi 9th Standard Textbooks | Official state textbooks for Class 9 Term 1 SAT portions | View 9th Standard Textbooks |
| Samacheer Kalvi 8th Standard Textbooks | Complete foundational textbooks for revision | View 8th Standard Textbooks |
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to apply for the TRUST Examination? (யார் விண்ணப்பிக்கலாம்?)
Rural Class 9 students studying in Tamil Nadu recognized schools situated in Village Panchayat areas whose parents’ annual income does not exceed ₹1,00,000 and who scored at least 50% in Class 8 examinations (45% for SC/ST).
What is the scholarship amount offered under the TRUST scheme?
Selected students receive ₹1,000 per year for four continuous academic years (Class 9 through Class 12), totaling ₹4,000 directly deposited into their bank accounts.
How many students are selected per educational district? (எத்தனை மாணவர்கள் தெரிவு செய்யப்படுவர்?)
A total of 100 students (50 boys and 50 girls) are selected from each educational district across Tamil Nadu based on district merit rankings.
What is the exam pattern and question distribution for the TRUST exam?
The examination consists of 100 multiple-choice questions (100 marks) across two sections: MAT (Mental Ability Test — 25 questions) and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test — 75 questions in Maths, Science, and Social Science). Duration is 2 hours. There is no negative marking.
Can students apply individually for the TRUST Exam?
No. Applications must be uploaded and submitted online by the School Headmaster through the official DGE portal (dge.tn.gov.in) using school EMIS credentials.
Is there any negative marking in the TRUST Exam?
No, there is no negative marking for incorrect or unanswered questions in the TRUST Examination.
Where can students download TRUST exam model question papers?
Students and teachers can download TRUST model question papers and practice sets directly from KalviMani’s dedicated scholarships and question papers repository.
Related pages on KalviMani
TN NMMS Class 8 Scholarship Guide · NMMS Question Papers & Answer Keys · Samacheer Kalvi 9th Standard Textbooks · Samacheer Kalvi 8th Standard Textbooks · Classes 1–9 Question Papers Hub · Scholarships & Schemes Hub
Pingback: TN NMMS Exam Question Papers & Answer Keys PDF (2020-2024)