National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) 2026-27
Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India
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About This Scholarship
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is a central sector scheme of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India. It pays Rs 12,000 a year to meritorious students from economically weaker families so that they do not drop out after Class VIII and continue to Class XII. According to the Ministry's release of 1 September 2026, the scheme gives one lakh fresh scholarships a year to Class IX students who clear the qualifying test conducted by the State or UT, and the scholarship continues in Classes X to XII on academic performance. Each State and UT has a fixed quota of scholarships.
Only students of State Government, Government-aided and local body schools can receive it. Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, residential schools run by the Centre or a State that provide boarding and lodging, and private schools are not eligible. The guidelines of March 2022 raised the parental income ceiling from Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 3.50 lakh a year and approved the scheme for 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Awardees are chosen through a State or UT selection test taken in Class VIII. Fresh and renewal applications are then filed on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). For 2026-27 the NSP window opened on 1 June 2026. The Ministry extended the last date to 30 September 2026 on 1 September 2026, and the NSP schemes page on 5 October 2026 shows 31 October 2026 as the last date for students, with verification continuing until 30 November 2026.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education |
| Level | Classes IX to XII (fresh award at Class IX, renewal in Classes X to XII) |
| Amount | Rs 12,000 a year (Rs 1,000 a month) |
| Parental income limit | Rs 3,50,000 a year from all sources |
| Fresh awards | One lakh a year, fixed State-wise and UT-wise |
| Applications 2026-27 | NSP open from 1 June 2026 to 31 October 2026 |
| Verification 2026-27 | Institute and defective-application verification till 15 November 2026; DNO/SNO/MNO verification till 30 November 2026 |
| Portal | National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) |
Sources: NSP schemes and dates, NMMSS guidelines (March 2022), NSP FAQ for NMMSS, PIB release of 1 September 2026. Checked on 5 October 2026.
Provider
Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India
Type
Merit-based
Level
Pre-Matric
Duration
Class IX to XII (4 years), renewed yearly
100000
Awards
Class IX to XII (4 years), renewed yearly
Duration
Fixed scholarship of Rs 12,000 a year (Rs 1,000 a month) for Classes IX to XII
Coverage
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| School | Regular student of a State Government, Government-aided or local body school |
| Marks to sit the test | At least 55% or equivalent grade in Class VII (5% relaxation for SC/ST) |
| Marks at selection | At least 55% in Class VIII (5% relaxation for SC/ST) |
| Selection test | Pass both MAT and SAT with at least 40% in aggregate (32% for SC/ST) |
| Parental income | Not more than Rs 3,50,000 a year from all sources |
| Renewal in Classes X to XII | Clear promotion in the first attempt and at least 60% in Class X (5% relaxation for SC/ST) to continue at the higher secondary stage |
- Not eligible: students of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, residential schools with free boarding and lodging, and private schools.
- The scholarship is payable for a maximum of four years, for studies in India only, and not for diploma or certificate courses.
- A student can hold only one scholarship under any central government scheme.
Source: NMMSS guidelines and NSP FAQ.
Minimum Marks
55%
Income Limit
₹3,50,000 p.a.
Eligible Categories
Scholarship Benefits
Financial Support
INR 12,000
Disbursement: Yearly, by Direct Benefit Transfer to the student's bank account; funds are released through SBI, the implementing bank
What's Covered
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scholarship amount | Rs 12,000 a year (Rs 1,000 a month) |
| Years covered | Classes IX to XII, a maximum of four years |
| Fresh awards | One lakh a year, shared across States and UTs by a fixed quota |
The scholarship is provided on a yearly basis and paid by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the student's bank account, with funds released through the State Bank of India (SBI), the implementing bank. The scholarship is discontinued if renewal is not applied for on NSP within the stipulated time, or if a gap of one academic session arises in studies.
How to Apply
Application Guide
- Qualify in the State or UT selection test held in Class VIII and be on the State or UT list of selected students.
- Open the National Scholarship Portal (https://scholarships.gov.in) and complete One Time Registration (OTR); an active mobile number, the Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to Aadhaar are needed, and OTR is mandatory for every NSP service.
- Log in with the OTR ID to the NSP Application Form module; demographic details and the photograph are fetched from OTR.
- Select the National Means Cum Merit Scholarship scheme and apply as a fresh or renewal applicant.
- Upload the income certificate of the parent or guardian issued by the competent authority of the State or UT and the caste certificate, if applicable.
- Submit the application and give the same documents to the school for verification by the Institute Nodal Officer; a defective application is returned for correction.
- The District or State Nodal Officer verifies the application next; status can be tracked under My Applications.
Selection Process
Selection is by a State or UT test taken in Class VIII, held in November each year under the guidelines. The test has two papers of 90 minutes each, the Mental Ability Test (MAT, 90 multiple-choice questions) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). A candidate must pass both with at least 40% in aggregate (32% for SC/ST), and children with disabilities get extra time. Awards are made within the quota of each State or UT and follow its reservation norms. Maharashtra's State Council of Examination, for example, lists its NMMS 2026-27 examination for Class VIII on Sunday 20 December 2026.
Students apply on NSP, and applications are verified at institute level (Institute Nodal Officer, L1) and then at district and State level (L2). The final list verified at all levels goes to the Ministry, which sanctions funds. A student who does not renew on NSP in time loses the scholarship.
Documents Required
Important Dates
Application Start
Monday, 01 June 2026
Date passed
Application End
Saturday, 31 October 2026
Application Deadline
Saturday, 31 October 2026