ANTHE 2026: Aakash launches national talent hunt exam for Classes V to XII
Chennai: Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) has announced the launch of the Aakash National Talent Hunt Exam (ANTHE) 2026, a national-level assessment for students from Classes V to XII.
According to AESL, more than 1 crore students have registered for ANTHE over the past 16 years. The examination is designed to assess students across subject knowledge, aptitude, analytical ability and examination behaviour, while providing insights into areas of strength and improvement.
Each question in ANTHE is mapped to specific concepts and competencies. The assessment is intended to provide students with a broader view of their academic performance and competitive examination preparedness, beyond their overall score.
AESL said the relevance of the assessment is also reflected in the performance of students who have previously qualified through ANTHE. In NEET UG 2026, 31 of Aakash’s 41 students who secured ranks among the Top 100 had previously qualified through ANTHE. In JEE Advanced 2026, 7 of the Top 11 students were from ANTHE, according to the organisation.
Students who take the examination will receive an ANTHE Intelligence Report containing subject-wise performance insights and information on their preparedness for competitive examinations. The report also evaluates three areas: Competitive Exam Success Potential (CESP), Test-Taking Personality (TTP) and Attempt Intelligence Quotient (AIQ).
The assessment is aimed at students at different stages of their academic preparation, including those who are not yet specifically preparing for JEE or NEET. It provides national-level benchmarking to help students understand their performance in comparison with peers at the state and national levels.
Commenting on ANTHE 2026, Chandra Sekhar Garisa Reddy, MD and CEO, Aakash Educational Services Limited, said the examination is intended to help students understand their academic potential and identify areas requiring improvement. He added that the initiative has evolved beyond scholarship assessment to provide students with insights into their preparation and examination performance.
For ANTHE 2026, students can avail themselves of scholarships of up to 100%, subject to applicable criteria. The examination also carries ₹2.5 crore in cash prizes for top-performing students.
ANTHE 2026 will be conducted in both online and offline formats. The online examination is scheduled from October 27 to November 1, 2026. The offline examination will be held on October 11, October 25 and November 1, 2026.
Registrations are currently open through the official ANTHE portal and Aakash centres across India.
