NMMSS 2025-26: Apply by Sept 30 on NSP Portal @scholarships.gov.in; Get Direct Registration Link

5 min read

Somdatta Roy

Senior Content Writer | Updated on - Sep 19, 2025

The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme, overseen by the Department of School Education and Literacy, provides 100,000 fresh scholarships each year. Check out the scholarship benefits.

nmmss-2025-26

The Ministry of Education has extended the deadline for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) applications for the 2025-26 academic year, with eligible students now having until September 30, 2025, to apply on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in. It offers INR 12,000 per annum to meritorious students from economically weaker sections, with the goal of preventing them from dropping out after Class 8 and helping them continue their studies through Class 12.

Direct Link: NMMSS 2025-26 Application Portal (Active)

Following the application period, scholarship funds will be transferred directly to the selected students' bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with a two-level verification process to be completed by the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) and District Nodal Officer (DNO) by October 15 and October 31, 2025, respectively.

Image Credit: scholarships.gov.in

NMMSS Scholarship Rules and Continuation Criteria

To maintain eligibility for the NMMSS, students must adhere to a set of specific rules and academic requirements given below:

Selection and Disbursement Procedures for NMMSS

Selection & Eligibility: Students are selected based on a state-level exam taken in Class 8, which includes a Mental Ability Test (MAT) and a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). To be eligible to appear for the test, a student must have at least 55% in their Class 7 exam (with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST students). To qualify for the scholarship, they must then pass both the MAT and SAT with a combined score of at least 40% (32% for SC/ST students) and also score at least 55% in their Class 8 exam.
Disbursement & Renewal: Selected students can only hold this one central government scholarship. They must apply via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), and funds are disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their bank accounts. To renew the scholarship, students must get a clear promotion on their first attempt from Class 9 to 10 and Class 11 to 12. They must also score at least 60% in their Class 10 board exam (5% relaxation for SC/ST students).

Scholarship Continuation and General Rules

Eligibility: Must be a regular, full-time student in a government, government-aided, or local body school.
Course Limits: Not valid for studies abroad, diploma, or certificate
Academic Gap: A scholarship is discontinued if there's an academic session gap.
Continuation: Must join the next class within 3 months of results.
Medical Leave: Can continue with a medical certificate for serious illness.
Irrevocability: A discontinued scholarship cannot be revived.
Payment Limits: Arrears claims are not entertained after 12 months.
Withdrawal: No payment if a student leaves within one month.

How to Apply for NMMS 2025-26?

To apply for NMMS 2025-26, follow this application process here:

Start by clicking the "Apply Now" button on the official website: scholarships.gov.in.
If you are a new user, click "Register" and complete the registration details. If you've already registered, you can log in using your Gmail, mobile number, or email ID.
From the dashboard, go to the "Students" section and click on it.
Next, click the "Login" button under the OTR (One-Time Registration) option, which is a mandatory step for applying via the National Scholarship Portal.
If you haven't registered for OTR, select "New User and Register yourself" and follow the instructions.
Read the on-screen instructions, check the box to confirm, and click "Next."
Enter a valid mobile number and the captcha, then submit the OTP you receive to proceed.
Complete your details and click "Save & Register" to finish the OTR process.
After successfully registering, navigate to the "Apply for Scholarship" option and click "Login" to begin your application.
Select the NMMS scholarship, fill out the necessary information, upload the documents and complete the form.

Image Credit: Snipped from official portal for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) 2025-26

Documents for NMMS 2025-26 Application

To apply for the NMMS scholarship, students must prepare the following documents: academic transcripts from previous exams, a valid income certificate, a caste certificate (if applicable), an Aadhaar card, bank details for an Aadhaar-linked account, and a disability certificate (if applicable). These documents are required for registration and submission on the official portal.

Conditions for Continuation in Secondary and Higher Secondary Stages

Promotion: To start the scholarship, awardees must get a clear promotion from Class 8 to Class 9.
Academic Performance: For continued scholarship in Class 10 and 12, students must get a clear promotion on their first attempt from Class 9 to 10 and from Class 11 to 12.
Minimum Marks: To continue the scholarship at the higher secondary stage, a minimum of 60% marks in the Class 10 board examination (or an equivalent exam) is required. A 5% relaxation is given to SC/ST students.
School Exams: If a school doesn't conduct a Class 9 or 11 exam, the scholarship can be continued upon submission of a certificate from the head of the institution.

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