The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) is a crucial centrally sponsored scheme. It offers financial support to talented students from economically weaker sections. This initiative aims to prevent student dropouts after Class 8 and encourage them to pursue secondary education. Each year, 1,00,000 scholarships are awarded nationwide, with funds directly transferred to eligible students’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Important Details of NMMS 2025-26
| Particulars | Details |
| Scholarship Name | National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) |
| Provided By | Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India |
| Beneficiaries | Students enrolled in Class 9 in government, government-aided, and local body schools |
| Scholarship Objective | To prevent dropouts after Class 8 and promote secondary education |
| Scholarship Amount | ₹12,000 per annum |
| Applicable Area | All India |
| Mode of Disbursement | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) |
| Application Fee | None |
Eligibility Criteria for NMMS 2025-26
Students must meet specific criteria to apply for the NMMS scholarship:
- Be an Indian national.
- Be enrolled in Class 9 in a government, government-aided, or local body school.
- Have secured at least 60% marks or equivalent grades in Class 8 (5% relaxation for SC/ST students).
- Have an annual family income of less than ₹3,50,000 from all sources.
- Students from NVS, KVS, Sainik Schools, or private schools are not eligible. Similarly, students in residential schools run by the state government, offering boarding and lodging facilities, are ineligible.
Benefits of the NMMS Scholarship
Selected students receive significant financial aid:
- ₹12,000 per annum (₹1,000 per month).
- The scholarship is directly credited to the student’s bank accounts via DBT.
- A total of 1,00,000 scholarships are awarded annually across India.
Also Read: CBSE Central Sector Scholarship 2025 Now Open for Applications
NMMS Renewal Criteria
To continue receiving the scholarship up to Class 12, scholars must:
- Secure at least 60% marks or equivalent grades in Class 10 (5% relaxation for SC/ST students).
- Be promoted to the next class on the first attempt in each academic year.
Selection Criteria and Exam Pattern:
The selection process for the NMMS scholarship involves a written entrance exam. This exam consists of two sections:
- Mental Ability Test (MAT): This section comprises 90 multiple-choice questions. It assesses verbal and non-verbal meta-cognitive abilities, including reasoning and critical thinking. Questions may cover analogy, classification, numerical series, pattern perception, and hidden figures.
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): This section also has 90 multiple-choice questions. It covers subjects like Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics, based on the Class 7 and Class 8 syllabus.
Each test has a duration of 90 minutes. Students with disabilities receive extra time as per guidelines. To qualify, students must achieve a minimum of 40% marks in each test (32% for SC/ST students).
Documents Required for NMMS Application
Students should keep the following documents ready before applying:
- Academic transcripts and mark sheets of previous exams (especially Class 7 and 8).
- Income certificate issued by a competent authority.
- Caste certificate (if applicable).
- Aadhaar card.
- Bank details of an Aadhaar-seeded account.
- Disability certificate (if applicable).
Application Process for NMMS 2025-26
Eligible students can apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The process generally involves:
- Visiting the official NSP portal
- Registering as a new user or logging in if already registered. One-Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory.
- Completing the registration details using a valid mobile number and OTP.
- Fill out the scholarship application form, select the NMMS scholarship.
- Uploading all required documents.
- Submitting the form.
There is no application fee for the NMMS scholarship. This scheme ensures that financial constraints do not hinder meritorious students from continuing their education.
