Students and parents who were planning to apply for a government scholarship have received some good news. The Ministry of Education has extended the application deadline for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2026-27.

Eligible students can now submit their applications through the National Scholarship Portal until October 31, 2026. The scheme is designed to provide financial support to meritorious students from economically weaker families and encourage them to continue their education after Class VIII.

How much scholarship is available?

Under NMMSS, selected students receive a scholarship of ₹12,000 per year.

The amount is transferred directly to the student's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), helping reduce the possibility of delays or intermediaries.

The government provides one lakh fresh scholarships every year to eligible students entering Class IX. The scholarship can subsequently continue from Classes X to XII, subject to the required academic conditions.

Who can apply?

Students generally need to meet specific academic and income criteria to qualify.

For the selection examination, a student must have secured at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in Class VII. Students belonging to SC and ST categories receive a relaxation of 5 percentage points.

Another important condition is the annual parental income. The family's annual income should not exceed ₹3.50 lakh, subject to the scheme's prescribed eligibility conditions.

The student should also be studying in a state government, government-aided or local body school.

Important dates to remember

The government has revised the application schedule for the 2026-27 academic year.

• Application submission: October 31, 2026

• Institute-level verification: November 15, 2026

• District-level verification: November 30, 2026

Students should not wait until the final day to submit their applications because verification by the concerned authorities is also required.

How to apply?

Eligible students need to apply through the National Scholarship Portal. Before submitting the scholarship application, students are required to complete their One-Time Registration (OTR).

After registration, applicants should carefully enter their personal, academic and bank details and upload the documents required on the portal.

It is equally important to ensure that the application is subsequently verified by the school and the concerned authorities. An application that is submitted but not properly verified may not proceed for scholarship disbursement.

Why students should not ignore this opportunity

For families with limited income, ₹12,000 a year can help cover expenses related to books, stationery, transportation and other educational requirements.

The bigger objective of NMMSS is to prevent economically disadvantaged but academically capable students from dropping out after Class VIII and encourage them to complete their secondary education.

Parents of eligible students should therefore check the eligibility requirements and complete the application process before the October 31 deadline.

The latest government announcement confirms that the deadline has been extended, giving students additional time to complete their applications and the subsequent verification process.