2025-26 National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship: Understand Application Procedures, Qualifications, Advantages, and Selection Qualities
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) is a centrally sponsored scheme designed to provide financial aid to students from economically weaker families, enabling them to continue their education without financial hurdles.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the NMMS scholarship, students must meet certain criteria. They must be Indian nationals, enrolled in Class 9 in a government, government-aided, or local body school. Furthermore, they must have secured at least 60% marks or equivalent grades in Class 8 (55% for SC/ST students), and their annual family income must not exceed ₹3,50,000 from all sources. Students in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, residential schools of central/state government, and private schools are not eligible.
Application Process
The application process for the NMMS scholarship involves several key steps:
- Eligibility check: Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria mentioned above.
- Registration on National Scholarship Portal (NSP): Visit the official NMMS or NSDL National Scholarship Portal. Click “Apply Now” and complete One-Time Registration (OTR) by providing valid mobile number, email ID, and other details. Verify via OTP. After registration, log in to apply for the NMMS scholarship by filling in necessary details and uploading required documents like income certificate, mark sheets, and bank details.
- Application timeline: Applications open from June 2, 2025, and the last date to apply is August 31, 2025. Defective application verification and institute verification continue till mid-September, followed by District/State level verification till end of September.
- Exam process: After the application, candidates appear for the NMMS exam (MAT and SAT), usually held in November or December 2025. Successful candidates receive the scholarship amount of ₹12,000 per annum via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Exam Details
The NMMS selection criteria includes a written entrance exam, consisting of two sections: MAT (Mental Ability Test) and SAT (Scholarship Aptitude Test). Each test is of 90 minutes duration, with extra time provided for students with disabilities as per guidelines. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and is conducted by the respective State Education Departments or SCERTs.
Continuation of Scholarship
To continue receiving the scholarship up to Class 12, scholars must secure at least 60% marks or equivalent grades in Class 10 (5% relaxation for SC/ST students) and be promoted to the next class on the first attempt in each academic year.
Scholarship Availability
The scholarship is applicable throughout India, and a total of 100,000 scholarships are awarded each year across the country. The NMMS scholarship exam for TS and AP is conducted by the respective State Education Departments or SCERTs.
Important Note
Eligible students can apply for the NMMS scholarship through the official portal, with no application fee required. Students applying for the NMMS scholarship must keep academic transcripts, income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), Aadhaar card, bank details of an Aadhaar-seeded account, and disability certificate (if applicable) ready before registration.
[1] National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025-26: Eligibility, Application, Exam, and More [2] NMMS Scholarship 2025-26: Application, Eligibility, Exam, and More [3] NMMS Scholarship 2025-26: How to Apply, Eligibility, Exam, and More [4] NMMS Scholarship 2025-26: A Comprehensive Guide
- To ensure continued educational development and academic success, students must work diligently to meet the high standard of securing at least 60% marks or equivalent grades in Class 10 to continue receiving the NMMS scholarship.
- For self-improvement and academic advancement, students can take advantage of the learning opportunities provided by the MAT (Mental Ability Test) and SAT (Scholarship Aptitude Test) under the NMMS program as part of the selection process.
