NMMSS Scholarship 2026-27: Applications Open Till September 30, Check Eligibility and Benefits

Students eligible for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) have until September 30, 2026, to submit their applications for the 2026-27 academic year.

The Ministry of Education has extended the application deadline to help eligible students complete the process through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The scholarship is aimed at meritorious students from economically weaker families and is designed to help them continue their education after Class VIII.

What Is NMMSS?

The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme is a Central Sector scholarship programme run by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education.

The scheme provides financial support to selected students so that they can continue their education at the secondary and higher secondary levels instead of dropping out after elementary education.

Under the scheme, one lakh fresh scholarships are awarded every year to selected students entering Class IX. The scholarship can continue through Classes X to XII if students meet the required conditions.

How Much Scholarship Do Students Get?

Selected students receive ₹12,000 per year.

The scholarship is provided through the National Scholarship Portal and is transferred directly to eligible students’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Who Can Apply?

Students need to meet certain conditions to be eligible for NMMSS.

The main eligibility requirements include:

The student’s parental income from all sources should not exceed ₹3.5 lakh per year.

Students should have secured at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in Class VII.

The 55% requirement is relaxed by 5 percentage points for SC/ST students.

Students must be studying as regular students in Government, Government-aided or local body schools.

Students studying in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and residential schools are not eligible under the scheme.

How Are Students Selected?

Students are selected through an examination conducted by their respective State or Union Territory.

The selection test has two parts:

Mental Ability Test (MAT): This tests areas such as reasoning, critical thinking, patterns and problem-solving.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): This covers subjects including science, social studies and mathematics based on the relevant school-level curriculum.

Students generally need to qualify in both tests. The Ministry’s scheme details state that the qualifying requirement is 40% overall for the two tests, with a 32% threshold for SC/ST students.

What Is the Last Date to Apply?

For the 2026-27 academic year, the last date for students to submit their NMMSS application is:

September 30, 2026

The National Scholarship Portal shows that institute verification is scheduled to continue until October 15, while district/state-level verification is scheduled until October 31, 2026.

How to Apply?

Students can apply through the National Scholarship Portal.

The NSP portal is open for the 2026-27 academic year, and students are required to complete One Time Registration (OTR) before applying for scholarships. The OTR number remains linked to the student’s scholarship applications during their academic journey.

Students should make sure that their personal details, school information, bank details and other required information are correct before submitting the application.

What Happens After Selection?

Students who receive the scholarship can continue receiving it in higher classes, provided they meet the renewal requirements.

For continuation, awardees need to meet academic and promotion conditions. The Ministry’s scheme information states that students generally need to secure at least 60% marks in Class X, with a 5 percentage point relaxation for SC/ST students, along with clear promotion requirements for continuation.

Why Is NMMSS Important?

The scheme is designed to reduce school dropouts among students from economically weaker families.

By providing financial assistance from Class IX onwards, NMMSS aims to help students continue their education through secondary and higher secondary school.

For eligible students, the September 30 deadline is therefore an important date to keep in mind.

Students and parents should check the National Scholarship Portal and their respective State or UT education authorities for the latest application and verification instructions before submitting the form.