There is an important scholarship opportunity for students from economically weaker families who want to continue their education after Class 8. The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is accepting applications for the 2026-27 academic year, and the government has extended the application deadline to September 30, 2026.

Under the scheme, selected students receive a scholarship of ₹12,000 per year to help them continue their studies from Class 9 through Class 12. The scholarship is intended to reduce school dropouts among meritorious students from economically weaker sections.

What is the NMMSS scholarship?

The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme is run by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education.

The government awards one lakh fresh scholarships every year to eligible Class 9 students who qualify through the selection process conducted by their respective State or Union Territory.

Students who receive the scholarship can continue receiving it through renewal from Classes 10 to 12, subject to the applicable academic requirements.

How much money does a student receive?

Selected students receive:

₹12,000 per year

The scholarship is paid directly into the student's bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

This means eligible students do not have to depend on cash payments or collect the scholarship from their school. The funds are transferred electronically through the government's payment system.

Who can apply?

Students need to meet specific conditions to qualify for the scholarship.

The scheme is primarily intended for students studying in:

• State government schools

• Government-aided schools

• Local-body schools

Students studying in private schools are not covered under this particular scholarship scheme.

Family income limit

The annual income of the student's parents or guardians should generally not exceed ₹3.50 lakh.

This income criterion is an important part of determining eligibility for the scholarship.

Academic requirement

Students generally need to have secured at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in Class 7 to appear for the scholarship selection test.

For students belonging to the SC/ST categories, the qualifying marks requirement is relaxed by 5 percentage points, according to the government's current guidelines.

Students have to clear a selection test

The scholarship is not automatically awarded to every student who meets the income and academic conditions.

Eligible students have to appear for the selection examination conducted by their respective State or Union Territory. Students who qualify are then considered for the scholarship.

The scheme therefore combines both financial-need and merit-based criteria.

What is the last date to apply?

The Ministry of Education has extended the application deadline for the 2026-27 cycle.

Important dates

• Application deadline: September 30, 2026

• Institute-level verification: October 15, 2026

• District-level verification: October 31, 2026

Students should not wait until the final day because applications also need to go through the required verification process.

How to apply for the scholarship?

Applications are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

For the 2026-27 academic year, selected students are required to complete One-Time Registration (OTR) before applying for the relevant scholarship.

After submitting the application, students should also ensure that their application is properly verified by the concerned school/institute and government nodal authorities.

Scholarship continues up to Class 12

One of the major advantages of NMMSS is that the financial support is not restricted to Class 9.

After receiving the scholarship, students can continue under the renewal process for Classes 10, 11 and 12, provided they satisfy the required academic conditions.

This can provide meaningful financial support during the years when students are transitioning into higher secondary education.

Important points for parents and students

Parents should carefully check the eligibility conditions before submitting an application. The scheme is specifically designed for students studying in eligible government, government-aided or local-body schools, and the family-income ceiling must also be satisfied.

Students who have already applied should not assume the process is complete. They should check their application status and ensure that the required institute and district-level verification is completed within the prescribed deadlines.

The government has advised eligible students to complete their applications on the National Scholarship Portal before September 30, 2026.

Important: The ₹12,000 amount is the annual scholarship amount for selected beneficiaries. It is not a universal payment for every student. Students must satisfy the eligibility requirements and qualify through the prescribed selection process.