New Delhi: 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 2025-26.
Eligible students can now submit their applications on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) until September 30, 2025.
Applications for the National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) opened on June 2, 2025. Students must complete a one-time registration (OTR) on the NSP before applying for the scholarship. Detailed FAQs and registration guidelines are available on the official NSP website at scholarships.gov.in.
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National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme to Support Meritorious Students
The National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme, administered by the Department of School Education & Literacy under the Ministry of Education, aims to reduce dropouts at the secondary level.
The scheme provides financial support to meritorious students from economically weaker sections, encouraging them to continue their studies from Class IX through Class XII.
Each year, one lakh fresh scholarships are awarded to Class IX students who qualify through examinations conducted by State/UT authorities.
The scholarship amount of ₹12,000 per annum per student continues through Classes X to XII, subject to academic performance. The scheme is open only to students studying in State Government, Government-aided, and local body schools.
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Scholarship Disbursal and Application Data
Scholarships are disbursed directly into the bank accounts of students through electronic transfer using the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. As of August 30, 2025, the NSP has recorded 85,420 fresh applications and 1,72,027 renewal applications.
Eligibility and Verification Process
To qualify for the National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme, students must have parental income not exceeding ₹3.5 lakh per year and secure at least 55% marks in Class VII (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST candidates).
The verification of applications involves two levels:
- Level 1 (L1): Institute Nodal Officer (INO) verification by October 15, 2025
- Level 2 (L2): District Nodal Officer (DNO) verification by October 31, 2025
