Are Applications for NMMSS Scholarship Open Until September 30?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Deadline for applications: September 30
- Scholarship amount: Rs 12,000 per annum
- Eligibility: Parental income below Rs 3.50 lakh
- Minimum marks required: 55% in Class 8
- Application portal: National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
New Delhi, Sep 16 (NationPress) The Union Ministry of Education has encouraged talented government school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to apply for an annual scholarship of Rs 12,000 under the National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2025-26 before the deadline of September 30, according to an official announcement made on Tuesday.
As of August 30, a total of 85,420 new applications and 1,72,027 renewal requests have been lodged by students nationwide, the official noted, adding that the eligible students can submit their applications through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
This scheme offers one lakh fresh scholarships annually for students in Class 9 who successfully pass the qualifying examination organized by the state or UT governments, as stated by the official.
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must meet specific criteria, including a parental income not exceeding Rs 3.50 lakh annually, along with a minimum of 55% marks or an equivalent grade in the Class 8 exam to be eligible for the selection test for the scholarship (with a relaxation of 5% for SC/ST students).
The scholarship continues through a renewal process for students from Classes 10 to 12 based on their academic achievements. This initiative is applicable solely to students enrolled in state government, government-aided, and local body schools, with the scholarship amounting to Rs 12,000 per year per student, as stated by the official.
Selected students can apply for the scholarship through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
The NSP portal has been available for students to submit their applications since June 2. For the academic year 2025-26, selected students must first complete a one-time registration (OTR) on the NSP, after which they can proceed to apply for the scholarship scheme they have chosen.
Through the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme, managed by the Department of School Education and Literacy within the Ministry of Education, scholarships are provided to deserving students from economically weaker sections to prevent them from dropping out after completing elementary education in Class 8 and to motivate them to finish their schooling up to the higher secondary level.
The NMMSS scholarships are directly transferred into the bank accounts of the chosen students through electronic means via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method.