📌About the Event

The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) 2026–27 is a government-funded scholarship initiative introduced by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to support academically talented students from economically weaker sections. The scheme aims to reduce school dropout rates after Class 8 and encourage students to continue their education up to Class 12.

Under this scholarship, 1 lakh fresh scholarships are awarded annually to eligible Class 9 students, providing ₹12,000 per year, with renewal opportunities up to Class 12. The Ministry of Education has officially extended the 2026–27 scholarship application deadline to October 31, 2026.

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ℹ️ Event Details

• Organized By: Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India
• Category: Government Scholarship / Merit-cum-Means Scholarship
• Mode of Application: Online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
• Mode of Selection: State/UT-level scholarship examination, followed by eligibility checks and online verification
• Scholarship Coverage: Across India, subject to State/UT eligibility and allocation
• Target Beneficiaries: Meritorious students from economically weaker sections studying in eligible government, government-aided and local-body schools
• Fresh Scholarships Available: 1,00,000 annually

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📅 Important Dates

• Application Deadline: October 31, 2026
• Institute Nodal Officer (L1) Verification Deadline: November 15, 2026
• District Nodal Officer (L2) Verification Deadline: November 30, 2026

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🎯 Eligibility & Rules

• Eligibilty:
• Nationality: Applicants must be Indian students.
• Educational Qualification: Students must have scored at least 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class 7 to appear for the selection examination.
• SC/ST Relaxation: A 5-percentage-point relaxation is available, reducing the Class 7 minimum to 50%.
• Annual Family Income: Parents’ combined annual income from all sources must not exceed ₹3,50,000.
• Eligible Schools: Students must be enrolled as regular students in state government, government-aided or local-body schools.
• Ineligible Institutions: Students studying in private schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and government residential schools providing boarding, lodging and education are not eligible.
• Academic Requirement: Students must secure at least 55% in Class 8 at the time of scholarship selection, with a 5-percentage-point relaxation for SC/ST students.

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🏆 Benefits for the Participants

• Annual Scholarship Amount: ₹12,000 per selected student.
• Monthly Equivalent: ₹1,000 per month.
• Maximum Scholarship Duration: Four academic years, from Class 9 to Class 12.
• Maximum Potential Financial Support: Up to ₹48,000 across four years, provided all renewal conditions are met.
• Fresh Scholarships: 1,00,000 awarded annually across India.
• Direct Benefit Transfer: Scholarship payments are transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the government’s DBT mechanism.