The Ministry of Education has extended the last date for submission of applications under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2026-27 to October 31, 2026.Interested and eligible students can apply online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in.
According to the Ministry, the extension has been given to provide students additional time to complete their applications and to ensure timely verification by the concerned authorities.
Students are required to complete their One-Time Registration (OTR) on the portal before applying for the scholarship.The NSP has been open for NMMSS applications since June 1, 2026.
As on September 30, 2026, a total of 88,522 fresh and 1,97,133 renewal applications have been submitted on the portal.
Students who have already submitted their applications have been advised to ensure that their forms are verified within the stipulated timeline.
REVISED SCHEDULE
Submission of application: October 31, 2026
Verification by Institute Nodal Officer (L1): November 15, 2026
Verification by District Nodal Officer (L2): November 30, 2026
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme is a central sector scheme aimed at supporting meritorious students from economically weaker sections and encouraging them to continue their education beyond Class 8. The scholarship is provided from Class 9 to Class 12.
Under the scheme, one lakh fresh scholarships are awarded every year to eligible Class 9 students who qualify in the selection examination conducted by the respective state and UT Governments.
The scholarship is renewed from Class 10 to 12 subject to prescribed academic criteria.
Students studying in state government, government-aided and local body schools are eligible for financial assistance of Rs 12,000 per annum. The amount is transferred directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
For appearing in the selection test, students must have secured at least 55 per cent marks or equivalent grade in Class 7, with a relaxation of 5 per cent for SC and ST students. The annual parental income of the applicant should not exceed Rs 3.50 lakh.
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