The State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) recently released the application forms for the National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) for various states.

• The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2025-26 provides scholarships of Rs 12,000 per annum to meritorious students from economically weaker sections studying in classes IX to XII in state government, government-aided, and local body schools.
• About one lakh fresh scholarships are awarded annually to Class IX students who clear a state-level qualifying exam, with renewals for Classes X to XII based on academic performance. The scholarship aims to reduce the dropout rate after Class VIII and encourage continuation of education up to higher secondary level.
• About National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme
• The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is a program by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to provide financial assistance to meritorious students from economically weaker sections. Its primary goal is to prevent student dropouts after Class 8 and encourage them to complete their secondary education. 

Key features

• Launch and continuation: The centrally sponsored scheme was launched in 2008 and has been approved for continuation through fiscal year 2025–26.
• Target students: Meritorious students from economically weaker families who are in Class 8.
• Scholarship benefits: A total of 100,000 new scholarships are awarded annually. Selected students receive ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000 per month) for four years, from Class 9 to 12.
• Payment method: The scholarship amount is disbursed directly into the student's bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
• Reservation: Reservation is provided according to the norms of the respective State/Union Territory. 

Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must meet the following conditions: 

• Parental income: The student's family's annual income from all sources must not exceed ₹3,50,000.
• Academics: The student must have scored at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in their Class 7 examination. A 5% relaxation is provided for students belonging to the SC and ST categories.
• Schooling: The student must be a regular attendee at a government, government-aided, or local body school.
• Exclusions: Students from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, and private residential schools are not eligible for this scholarship. 

Selection procedure
The selection of students is based on an examination conducted by the respective State or UT. The test consists of two parts: 

• Mental Ability Test (MAT): This test has 90 multiple-choice questions on reasoning and critical thinking.
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): This test also has 90 multiple-choice questions covering subjects taught in Class 7 and 8, including science, social studies, and mathematics.
• Qualifying marks: Students must pass both tests with a minimum of 40% aggregate marks. The pass mark is 32% for SC/ST students. 

Application and renewal

• Application: Applications must be submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). It is mandatory for applicants to complete a one-time registration (OTR) on the portal.
• Renewal requirements: To continue receiving the scholarship each year until Class 12, the student must:
• Secure clear promotions from Class 9 to 10 and Class 11 to 12 on their first attempt.
• Score a minimum of 60% marks in their Class 10 board examination (with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST students).
• Apply for renewal annually on the National Scholarship Portal.

Key updates for 2025-26:

• The application window opened on June 2, 2025, and the deadline was extended to September 30, 2025.
• Registration and application are done online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), requiring one-time registration (OTR).
• Eligibility requires students to have at least 55% marks in Class VII or equivalent (50% for SC/ST) to appear in the selection test.
• Family annual income should not exceed Rs 3.5 lakh.
• The NMMS exam consists of two papers: Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
• The exam is conducted state-wise with some variations in dates; for example, Assam's NMMS exam for 2025 is scheduled for November 15, 2025.
• Students studying in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, or private schools are not eligible.
• Continued scholarship from Class X to XII depends on meeting minimum academic performance criteria.

This scheme is run by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, and aims to support economically disadvantaged yet meritorious students to pursue secondary and higher secondary education without financial barriers.

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