NMMS 2026-27: Apply on NSP by October 31; state dates vary

The application window for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Scheme for the 2026-27 academic year is currently open, with the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) accepting registrations and renewals until October 31, 2026. This initiative by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, aims to provide financial assistance to meritorious students from economically weaker sections, helping them continue their school education and mitigate dropout rates after Class 8.

The scholarship, which provides Rs 12,000 per year (Rs 1,000 per month) to selected students from Class 9 to Class 12, targets approximately 1,00,000 beneficiaries annually. While the NSP serves as the central platform for scholarship disbursement, the initial application process and examination are managed by the respective State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), leading to varying state-specific application and examination dates.

NMMS Application and Verification Deadlines

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) commenced registration for the NMMS Scholarship 2026-27 on June 1, 2026, with the final date for submitting applications set for October 31, 2026. Following the application submission, a series of verification processes are scheduled. The deadline for Defective Application Verification and Institute Verification is November 15, 2026, while District/State/Ministry Nodal Officer (DNO/SNO/MNO) Verification must be completed by November 30, 2026.

Students who were selected in the NMMS Examination 2025 are required to submit a fresh application on the NSP for the 2026-27 scholarship session using their existing One-Time Registration (OTR). Similarly, NMMS students from 2024, 2023, and 2022 must submit their renewal applications on the NSP, also utilising their existing OTR. Aadhaar seeding with the student’s bank account is mandatory for receiving scholarship funds via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

State-Wise Application and Examination Schedules

The application forms for the NMMS 2026-27 examination have been released by several states, including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. While the NSP handles the scholarship application post-qualification, the examination application dates and modes vary significantly across states. As of October 27, 2026, states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand have application deadlines in late October and early November. For instance, Tamil Nadu’s application window is from October 26 to November 3, 2026, while Gujarat’s closes on October 30, 2026.

The NMMS examination itself is conducted in an offline (OMR-based) mode, with admit cards typically released 10-15 days prior to the exam date, available for download from the respective SCERT portals or provided through schools. Upcoming examination dates range from November 2026 in states like Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana, to later dates in 2027 for states such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka.

Eligibility Criteria and Examination Pattern

To be eligible for the NMMS Scholarship 2026-27, students must currently be studying in Class 8 at a government, government-aided, or state board school. A key financial criterion is that the annual parental income from all sources must not exceed Rs 3,50,000. Students enrolled in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV) are not eligible for this scholarship. For scholarship continuation in higher secondary school, students must achieve at least 60% marks in the Class 10 Board Examination. To receive the scholarship in Class 12, students must pass Class 11 on the first attempt with a minimum of 55% marks, with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST students in academic performance.

The NMMS selection test comprises two parts: the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Each test consists of 90 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and has a duration of 90 minutes. The minimum qualifying marks for both MAT and SAT are 40% for General, Backward Class (BC), and Physically Handicapped (PH) categories, equivalent to 36 marks. For Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories, the minimum qualifying marks are 32%, or 29 marks.

Further reading

• NMMS 2026-27 application forms open; state deadlines vary, apply by November 8
• NMMS Maharashtra: Apply by October 14, 2026
• AIBE XXII registration closes today: apply by October 27, fee payment by October 28
• AEC Asansol BTech direct admissions 2026-27 open: apply by 31 October
• UCO Bank apprentice recruitment 2026 registration underway: apply by October 29 for 530 vacancies

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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