National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) 2026: Eligibility, Amount & Apply Online

If your child is studying in Class 8 and belongs to a financially weaker family, the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) can help reduce the cost of continuing school education.

Under NMMS, selected students receive ₹12,000 per year from Class 9 to Class 12, subject to the scheme’s renewal conditions. The scholarship is aimed at meritorious students studying in eligible government and government-aided schools.

The selection is not automatic. Students have to meet the eligibility requirements and qualify through the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) conducted by their respective State or UT.

If you’re looking for other financial assistance for students, you can also explore the CareerMint Scholarships page for more government and private scholarship opportunities.

NMMS Scholarship 2026 – Overview

Particular	Details
Scholarship Name	National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme
Common Name	NMMS / NMMSS
Ministry	Ministry of Education, Government of India
Scholarship Type	Merit-based
Fresh Scholarship	Class 9
Scholarship Amount	₹12,000 per year
Scholarship Duration	Class 9 to Class 12
Family Income Limit	₹3.5 lakh per year
Selection Test	MAT and SAT
Application Portal	National Scholarship Portal
Mode of Payment	Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

The scheme provides one lakh fresh scholarships every year to selected Class 9 students, with continuation or renewal up to Class 12 if the required conditions are met.

What is the NMMS Scholarship?

The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme was introduced to support students from economically weaker sections and encourage them to continue their education after Class 8.

The scholarship starts when a selected student enters Class 9 and can continue up to Class 12, provided the student meets the renewal requirements.

Students don’t receive the scholarship simply because they meet the income or academic criteria. They also have to qualify in the selection test conducted by their State or UT.

NMMS Scholarship Amount

Selected students receive ₹12,000 per year, which works out to ₹1,000 per month.

The scholarship can be available for a maximum of four years:

Class 9 – ₹12,000
Class 10 – ₹12,000
Class 11 – ₹12,000
Class 12 – ₹12,000

This means a student who continues to meet the renewal conditions throughout Classes 9 to 12 can receive up to ₹48,000 over four years.

The official scheme guidelines specify the annual scholarship amount as ₹12,000.

NMMS Eligibility 2026

Before applying, check the eligibility carefully. There are requirements related to Class 7 marks, family income, school type and the student’s category.

A student generally needs to meet these conditions:

The student’s parental income from all sources should not exceed ₹3.5 lakh per year.
The student should have obtained at least 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class 7.
The 55% requirement is relaxed by 5% for SC/ST students.
The student should be studying as a regular student in a Government, Government-aided or local body school.
Students studying in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), private schools and certain residential schools are not eligible under the scheme.
Other reservation provisions are applied according to the relevant State/UT rules.

Who can apply for NMMS?

The fresh selection takes place at the Class 8 stage. Students who satisfy the eligibility requirements can appear for the State/UT selection examination.

If selected, the scholarship begins from Class 9.

NMMS Selection Process

This is an important part of the scholarship because students have to clear the selection test.

The State or UT conducts the examination, which includes two tests:

1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)

MAT checks areas such as:

Reasoning
Critical thinking
Analogy
Classification
Numerical series
Pattern perception
Hidden figures

The official guidelines state that the MAT consists of 90 multiple-choice questions.

2. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

SAT checks the student’s understanding of school-level subjects.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements have to qualify in both parts of the NMMS examination according to the prescribed criteria.

The current Ministry of Education information states that students must secure at least 40% marks in aggregate across MAT and SAT, while the qualifying threshold is 32% for SC/ST students.

NMMS Renewal Rules

Getting selected in Class 8 does not mean the scholarship will continue automatically until Class 12.

There are academic requirements for renewal.

For continuation, an awardee needs to obtain at least 60% marks in Class 10. This requirement is relaxed by 5% for SC/ST students.

Students must also obtain clear promotion from Class 9 to Class 10 and from Class 11 to Class 12 in the first attempt for continuation in the relevant higher classes.

How to Apply for NMMS Scholarship Online?

NMMS applications are handled through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), while the selection examination is conducted by the respective State or UT.

For AY 2026–27, NSP states that the portal is open from 1 June 2026, and the current scheme listing shows the NMMS student application deadline as 30 September 2026.

Steps to apply

Visit the National Scholarship Portal.
Complete your One Time Registration (OTR) if you do not already have one.
Log in using your OTR details.
Find the National Means Cum Merit Scholarship scheme.
Fill in the required student and academic details.
Provide the required bank and other information.
Check the application carefully.
Submit the application before the deadline.
Keep the application details for future reference.

NSP states that an OTR is mandatory for scholarship applications and provides a unique 14-digit number for the student’s academic career.

Apply for NMMS

Students should use the official National Scholarship Portal for the online scholarship application.

For the examination schedule and state-specific process, students should also check the NMMS information provided by their respective State/UT education department.

NMMS Scholarship Last Date 2026

For Academic Year 2026–27, the National Scholarship Portal currently lists:

Student application last date: 30 September 2026

The portal also lists 15 October 2026 for defective application verification and 31 October 2026 for DNO/SNO/MNO verification.

Since scholarship schedules can change, students should check the NSP portal before submitting their application.

How is NMMS Scholarship Paid?

The scholarship is transferred directly to the student’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

The Ministry of Education states that NMMSS is onboarded on the National Scholarship Portal and that scholarship payments are disbursed through DBT using the Public Financial Management System.

NMMS Scholarship – Important Points

Before applying, keep these points in mind:

NMMS selection takes place at the Class 8 stage.
The scholarship starts from Class 9.
The annual scholarship amount is ₹12,000.
The maximum scholarship period is four years.
Family income must be within the prescribed limit.
The student must meet the Class 7 academic requirement.
MAT and SAT are part of the selection test.
Renewal depends on meeting the required academic conditions.
Students should check their State/UT’s examination process separately.
Applications are handled through NSP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NMMS scholarship?

NMMS is a Government of India scholarship scheme designed to support meritorious students from economically weaker sections and encourage them to continue their education after Class 8.

How much money is given under NMMS?

Selected students receive ₹12,000 per year. The scholarship can continue from Class 9 through Class 12 if the student satisfies the renewal conditions.

What is the income limit for NMMS?

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

What percentage is required for NMMS?

Students generally need at least 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class 7 to appear for the selection test. The requirement is relaxed by 5% for SC/ST students.

Which students cannot apply for NMMS?

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

Is NMMS available for Class 9 students?

The fresh selection is conducted when students are in Class 8, and the scholarship is awarded when selected students enter Class 9.

Where can I apply for NMMS?

The scholarship application is available through the National Scholarship Portal. The selection examination itself is conducted by the respective State/UT.