Last Updated on December 6, 2025 by Abhijeet chatterjee
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Scheme 2025-26, a Central Sector program by the Ministry of Education, awards INR 12,000 annually (INR 1,000/month) to meritorious Class 8 students from economically weaker sections (family income ≤ INR 3.5 lakh) to aid education from Class 9 to 12.
Currently, the applications are open in states like Bihar (till December 7, 2025), Chhattisgarh (January 9, 2026), Jammu & Kashmir (January 15, 2026), and Tamil Nadu (January 2026), while most others have closed.
NMMS Latest Alerts
- West Bengal NMMS admit card 2025-26 released on December 5, 2025, available at scholarships.wbsed.gov.in ; exam on December 21, 2025.
- Andhra Pradesh result out
- Chhattisgarh 2,246 selected
- Gujarat 5,097 qualify
- Maharashtra category marks released
- Tamil Nadu registration opens with the exam on February 22, 2026.
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NMMS Exam Dates & Other Details
| Category | Details |
| Exam Dates 2025 | Andhra Pradesh / Delhi: Dec 7, 2025 • Kerala: Dec 9, 2025 • Uttarakhand: Dec 16, 2025 • Maharashtra: Dec 21, 2025 • Telangana: Nov 23, 2025 (Held) |
| Result Timeline | Tentatively January – March 2026 |
| Eligibility – Academic | Minimum 55% in Class 7 (Relaxation: 50% for SC/ST) |
| Eligibility – School Type | Only Government / Aided / Local Body schools; Not eligible: JNV, KVS, Sainik, Residential/Private Schools |
| National Scholarship Quota | 1,00,000 scholarships per year (distributed state-wise based on Class 8 enrollment) |
| Examples of State-wise Quota | Uttar Pradesh: ~15,143 • Maharashtra: ~11,682 • West Bengal: ~7,250 |
Apply via NSP for scholarship claim post-exam; state portals for registration.
- Official NSP https://scholarships.gov.in/ (OTR mandatory, fresh/renewal deadline September 30, 2025 extended).
- Updates: MoE https://dsel.education.gov.in/en/scheme/nmmss
- PIB extensions: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2167076 .
National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme for Year 2025-26: Timeline
| State/UT | Application Last Date | Exam Date | Result Date (Tentative) | Official Portal/Link |
| Andhra Pradesh | October 25, 2025 (Closed) | December 7, 2025 | January 2026 | https://main.bseap.org/ |
| Assam | October 30, 2025 (Closed) | TBD | February 2026 | https://bidyarthi.co.in/ |
| Bihar | December 7, 2025 | January 2026 | March 2026 | https://scholarships.gov.in/ |
| Chhattisgarh | January 9, 2026 | February 2026 | April 2026 | https://scert.cg.gov.in/ |
| Chandigarh | October 5, 2025 (Closed) | November 30, 2025 | January 2026 | https://siechd.nic.in/ |
| Delhi | October 4, 2025 (Closed) | December 7, 2025 | January 2026 | https://www.edudel.nic.in/ |
| Gujarat | December 1, 2025 (Closed) | TBD | February 2026 | https://sebexam.org/ |
| Haryana | October 15, 2025 (Closed) | November 30, 2025 | January 2026 | https://scertharyana.gov.in/ |
| Himachal Pradesh | September 30, 2025 (Closed) | November 2, 2025 | December 2025 | https://himachalservices.nic.in/ |
| Jammu & Kashmir | January 15, 2026 | February 2026 | April 2026 | https://schedujammu.nic.in/ |
| Karnataka | November 15, 2025 (Closed) | December 7, 2025 | January 2026 | https://ssp.karnataka.gov.in/ |
| Kerala | November 1, 2025 (Closed) | December 9, 2025 | January 2026 | https://scholarship.scert.kerala.gov.in/ |
| Maharashtra | October 30, 2025 (Closed) | December 21, 2025 | February 2026 | https://mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in/ |
| Manipur | October 10, 2025 (Closed) | TBD | January 2026 | https://manipur.gov.in/ |
| Mizoram | December 1, 2025 (Closed) | TBD | January 2026 | https://scert.mizoram.gov.in/ |
| Meghalaya | November 6, 2025 (Closed) | TBD | January 2026 | https://megeducation.gov.in/ |
| Madhya Pradesh | December 2025 | TBD | February 2026 | https://educationportal.mp.gov.in/ |
| Odisha | September 16, 2025 (Closed) | TBD | February 2026 | https://nmms.odisha.gov.in/ |
| Rajasthan | October 10, 2025 (Closed) | January 2026 | March 2026 | https://rajshaladarpan.nic.in/ |
| Tamil Nadu | January 2026 | February 22, 2026 | March 2026 | https://dge.tn.gov.in/ |
| Telangana | October 18, 2025 (Closed) | November 23, 2025 | June 2026 | https://bse.telangana.gov.in/NMMS.aspx |
| Tripura | TBD | TBD | February 2026 | https://scertonline.tripura.gov.in/ |
| Uttar Pradesh | October 4, 2025 (Closed) | November 9, 2025 | January 2026 | https://upmsp.edu.in/ |
| Uttarakhand | October 15, 2025 (Closed) | December 16, 2025 | February 2026 | https://schooleducation.uk.gov.in/ |
| West Bengal | September 16, 2025 (Closed) | TBD | March 2026 | https://scholarships.wbsed.gov.in/ |
NMMS 2025–26 Latest Alerts & Key Details Table
| Category | Details |
| Latest Alerts (2025–26) | West Bengal: Admit card released Dec 5, 2025 (scholarships.wbsed.gov.in) • Andhra Pradesh: Result Released • Chhattisgarh: 2,246 students selected • Gujarat: 5,097 students qualify • Maharashtra: Category-wise marks published • Tamil Nadu: Registration open; exam on Feb 22 • West Bengal: 2024 result released on Apr 28, 2025 • J&K: Applications open till Jan 15, 2026 |
| Exam Pattern | MAT: 90 Questions, 90 Minutes • SAT: 90 Questions, 90 Minutes |
| Qualifying Marks | General: 40% (both MAT & SAT) • Reserved Categories: 32% |
| Syllabus | Class 7 & 8 NCERT – Maths, Science, Social Science, Mental Ability |
| Required Documents | Aadhaar • Income Certificate (≤ ₹3.5 lakh) • Class 7 Marksheet (55% required) • Bank Passbook |
| Application Process | Apply through school for the state-level NMMS exam • After selection, claim the scholarship on the NSP (National Scholarship Portal) |
| Renewal Criteria | Renewal on NSP every year • Class 10: Minimum 60% (55% for SC/ST) • Must pass Class 11 in first attempt |
| Total Scholarships | 1,00,000 fresh NMMS scholarships awarded every year across India |
For Updates: Monitor NSP news https://scholarships.gov.in/Public/AlertMessages,
MoE site https://dsel.education.gov.in/en/scheme/nmmss .
For Class 8, apply online: NSP OTR first. Question paper samples: SCERT sites (e.g., Odisha https://nmms.odisha.gov.in/).
Last date alerts: Vary; e.g., J&K Jan 15, 2026. Fair distribution: Quotas for SC/ST/SEBC/PH.
Eligibility for NMMS Application Form 2025-26
| Category | Eligibility Details |
| Class Requirement | Must be studying in Class 8 during the 2025–26 session. |
| Permitted School Types | Government, Government-Aided, Local Body Schools. |
| Not Eligible | JNV, KVS, Sainik Schools, Private Schools, Residential Schools, Diploma/Certificate Courses, Students studying abroad. |
| Minimum Marks (Class 7) | 55% (General/OBC) • 50% (SC/ST/PwD). |
| Annual Family Income Limit | ≤ ₹3.5 lakh from all sources. |
| Reservation | SC/ST/OBC/PwD reservations as per individual state rules. |
| Scholarships Available | 1,00,000 scholarships across India (state-wise distribution). |
| Selection Mode | State-level NMMS exam conducted by respective SCERT/education boards. |
| Additional State Criteria | Many states require domicile, attendance %, or specific documents—check state SCERT notifications. |
| Ineligible Cases | Students already receiving other central govt scholarships; incorrect/false information leads to disqualification. |
| Renewal Rules | Must pass Class 9–11 in first attempt; 60% in Class 10 (55% for SC/ST). Scholarship renewed annually on NSP. |
Documents Required for NMMS Application Form 2025-26
Mandatory docs are listed below:
- Two passport-size photos, SC/ST cert (if applicable)
- income cert (≤ INR 3.5 lakh from competent authority like Tehsildar)
- disability cert (if applicable)
- Class 7 marksheet.
- Additional: Domicile cert, bank passbook copy, Aadhaar card, school bonafide cert.
All to be scanned in PDF/JPG.
NMMS Application Fees 2025-26
| State | Category-wise Fee | Notes |
| Assam | General/OBC – ₹200 • SC/ST – ₹180 • PwD – ₹175 | PwD often partly exempted. |
| Telangana | General/BC – ₹100 • SC/ST/PwD – ₹50 | One of the lowest fee structures. |
| Maharashtra | ₹50–₹100 (varies by category) • Late Fee: up to ₹200 | Check district circulars for exact slabs. |
| Haryana | ₹50–₹150 | Category-wise slabs differ by notification year. |
| Karnataka | ₹50–₹150 | SC/ST/PwD may receive partial exemption. |
| Kerala | No Fee | Fully free for all categories. |
| Delhi | No Fee | No exam fee for all applicants. |
State-Wise NMMS Online Form 2025-26
Applications are state-specific and can be applied both online & offline through schools or NSP. The table below lists them all:
How to Submit the NMMS Exam Form 2025-26
Online: Visit NSP or state portal, register with mobile/email, fill form (personal, academic, bank details), upload docs, pay fee, submit, print acknowledgement.
Offline: Get form from school, fill manually, attach docs, submit to headmaster, who forwards to SCERT.
Track via portal with app number. Corrections if the window is open. Deadlines are strict; late fees in some states (e.g., Maharashtra).
Steps to Submit the NMMS Application 2025-26 Form in Offline Mode
- Obtain the form from the school or SCERT office/website.
- Fill in black/blue pen: Name, DOB, address, school, category, income, bank details.
- Attach photocopies: Income cert, caste cert, disability cert, Class 7 marksheet, and photos.
- Get parent/guardian signature; self-attest docs.
- Submit to the school principal by the deadline.
- School verifies and forwards to the block/district education officer.
- Receive acknowledgement; track online if available.
NMMS Renewal
Renewal for Classes 10-12 via NSP can be done annually. The window opens between July and August, and this year the deadline was August 31.
Steps:
- Log in to NSP, select renewal, update marks (60% Class 10, 55% SC/ST)
- Upload the current marksheet and bank details, and submit.
- Disbursement if promoted on the first attempt.
- Failure to renew discontinues the scholarship.
- Verify on the NSP dashboard.
NMMS Exam Pattern
| Component | Details |
| Total Duration | 3 hours (MAT – 90 min, SAT – 90 min) |
| Total Questions | 180 MCQs (MAT – 90, SAT – 90) |
| Total Marks | 180 marks |
| Negative Marking | No negative marking |
| MAT Topics | Analogy, classification, series, patterns, hidden figures |
| SAT Topics | Science – 35 Qs • Maths – 35 Qs • Social Science – 20 Qs |
| Qualifying Marks | 40% for General • 32% for Reserved |
| PwD Relaxation | Extra 30 minutes |
NMMS Syllabus
| Section | Syllabus Coverage |
| MAT (Mental Ability Test) | Analogy, classification, numerical series, pattern perception, hidden figures |
| SAT – Science | Physics, Chemistry, Biology from Class 7–8 NCERT |
| SAT – Maths | Algebra, geometry, mensuration, data handling |
| SAT – Social Science | History, Geography, Civics, Economics |
| Overall Focus | State board Class 7–8 curriculum |
| Suggested Resources | NCERT textbooks, SCERT guides |
NMMS Question Paper
| State | Official Link for Previous Papers |
| Andhra Pradesh | https://main.bseap.org/ |
| Telangana | https://bse.telangana.gov.in/NMMS.aspx |
| Kerala | https://scholarship.scert.kerala.gov.in/ |
| Maharashtra | https://mscepune.in/ |
| Odisha | https://nmms.odisha.gov.in/ |
| Uttar Pradesh | https://upmsp.edu.in/ |
| West Bengal | https://scholarships.wbsed.gov.in/ |
| Sample Availability | MAT & SAT PDFs with answers; includes papers like Telangana NMMS 2025 available on the state portal |
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