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Quick update
The Ministry of Education has extended the last date for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) 2026-27 applications on the National Scholarship Portal. Students can now apply until 15 November 2026. The scholarship pays Rs. 12,000 a year to students of Class IX to XII.
If your child cleared the NMMS selection exam held by your state and now studies in Class IX in a government or government-aided school, this one is for you. The same goes for students in Class X, XI or XII who already get NMMSS money and need to renew it for this year. The new last date to submit the form on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is 15 November 2026, and there is no sign of a further extension.
Below you will find the revised dates, who qualifies, how much money you get, what papers to keep ready, and the steps to apply or renew on NSP. We have also added the verification deadlines, because a form that the school never verifies is as good as a form never filed.
Is this for you?
Apply if you are a fresh Class IX student who was selected through your state’s NMMS exam, or a Class X, XI or XII student already on the scheme. Your family income must be Rs. 3.5 lakh a year or less, and you must study in a state government, government-aided or local body school.
Do not bother if you study in a Kendriya Vidyalaya, a Navodaya Vidyalaya, another government residential school, or a private school. These students are outside the scheme. If you never took or cleared the state selection test, you also cannot apply as a fresh candidate this year.
NMMSS 2026-27 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme | National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) |
| Run by | Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education |
| Fresh scholarships every year | 1,00,000 (Class IX students) |
| Amount | Rs. 12,000 a year, paid by DBT |
| Income limit | Parental income up to Rs. 3.5 lakh a year |
| Portal | National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) |
| Portal open since | 1 June 2026 |
Revised dates
| Stage | Last date |
|---|---|
| Student application on NSP | 15 November 2026 |
| Verification by Institute Nodal Officer (L1) | 30 November 2026 |
| Verification by District Nodal Officer (L2) | 15 December 2026 |
According to the Ministry, 90,483 fresh and 1,99,531 renewal applications had been filed by 30 October 2026. With one lakh fresh slots on offer each year, a lot of selected Class IX students clearly have not applied yet.
Scholarship amount
Each selected student gets Rs. 12,000 a year. The money goes straight into the student’s or parent’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer, using the Aadhaar Payment Bridge. That means the account must be linked to Aadhaar and seeded for DBT, otherwise the payment can bounce even after your form is approved.
The award starts in Class IX and can continue up to Class XII if you keep meeting the renewal rules. Over four years, that adds up to Rs. 48,000 for a student who renews every year.
Renewal
Students in Class X, XI and XII apply again each year as renewal candidates on NSP. The Ministry has said renewal depends on scoring 60% marks. Some state guidelines set different cut-offs for different classes and give SC/ST students a relaxation, so check your state’s NMMS notice or ask your school’s nodal officer what applies to you.
Who can apply
- Students who qualified in the NMMS selection exam held by their State or UT in Class VIII.
- At least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in Class VII (5% relaxation for SC/ST students).
- Parental income of not more than Rs. 3.5 lakh a year.
- Regular students of state government, government-aided or local body schools.
- Renewal students in Class X to XII who meet the marks requirement.
Not eligible
Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and other government residential schools are left out of NMMSS. A form filed from one of these schools will be rejected at verification.
Documents needed
| Document | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar (student’s or parent’s) | Needed for One Time Registration (OTR) on NSP |
| Bank account linked and seeded with Aadhaar | DBT payment of the scholarship |
| Income certificate | Proof that parental income is within Rs. 3.5 lakh |
| Previous class marksheet | Marks check for fresh and renewal cases |
| NMMS exam result or selection details | Proof of selection (fresh applicants) |
The exact upload list can differ by state, so check the form on NSP before you sit down to fill it.
How to apply on NSP
- Complete OTRGo to scholarships.gov.in and finish One Time Registration using the student’s or a parent’s Aadhaar. You get an OTR number for login.
- Log in and pick the schemeSign in with the OTR number and choose the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship from the list of central schemes.
- Fill the formEnter school, class, marks, income and bank details. Fresh students choose the fresh option; Class X to XII students choose renewal.
- Upload and submitUpload the documents asked for, check every field and submit before 15 November 2026.
- Follow up with the schoolAsk your school nodal officer to verify the form at L1 by 30 November. The district officer then verifies at L2 by 15 December.
Do not wait for the last day
Submitting is only half the job. If your school’s nodal officer does not verify the form by 30 November, it will not move forward. Apply early and give the school time to act.
Check status
Log in to NSP with your OTR number and open the application status section. It shows whether your form is submitted, pending at the institute (L1), pending at the district (L2) or verified. If it sits at L1 for more than a few days, speak to the head of your school. Payment status can be tracked later once the Ministry releases funds.
Students who have already applied should make sure their applications are verified by the L1 and L2 deadlines.Ministry of Education, PIB release, 31 October 2026
Important links
Date extension noticePIB, Ministry of Education
Department websiteSchool Education and Literacy
FAQ
What is the new last date for NMMSS 2026-27?
Students can apply on the National Scholarship Portal until 15 November 2026. School-level verification closes on 30 November and district-level verification on 15 December 2026.
How much money does NMMSS give?
Rs. 12,000 a year, paid through DBT into an Aadhaar-seeded bank account, from Class IX up to Class XII if you keep renewing.
Can a Kendriya Vidyalaya student apply?
No. Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and other government residential schools are not covered.
I applied last year. Do I need to apply again?
Yes. Students in Class X, XI and XII must file a renewal application on NSP every year and meet the marks condition.
Sources
Dates, application figures, amount and eligibility are from the Ministry of Education’s PIB release of 31 October 2026. Exclusions, DBT and renewal details are from the Department of School Education and Literacy’s NMMSS awareness release. Applications are made on the National Scholarship Portal.