NMMS 2026-27: Apply by October 31 on National Scholarship Portal

The application deadline for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) for the 2026-27 academic year has been extended for students applying through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Students in Class 8 seeking financial assistance can now submit their applications until October 31, 2026.

This scholarship, a Ministry of Education scheme, aims to provide ₹12,000 annually to meritorious students from economically weaker sections, encouraging them to continue their studies at the secondary stage and preventing dropout after Class 8. One lakh fresh scholarships are awarded each year across India.

Application Deadlines and Verification Process

The Ministry of Education has extended the NMMSS 2026-27 application deadline on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for fresh and renewal applicants to October 31, 2026. This marks the second extension, as the original deadline was August 31, 2026, later extended to September 30, 2026.

Following student submissions, schools are required to verify applications by November 15, 2026, a deadline also extended from its original September 15, 2026, and subsequent October 15, 2026. District officers must complete their verification by November 30, 2026, an extension from the initial September 30, 2026, and October 31, 2026, deadlines. The NSP opened for NMMSS 2026-27 applications on June 1, 2026.

State-Specific Application and Exam Schedules

While the NSP deadline is uniform, state-specific application deadlines and modes vary. For instance, the application window for NMMS Rajasthan Form is from October 30 to November 30, 2026, through schools online. In contrast, NMMS Tamil Nadu applications, which opened on October 26, will close on November 3, 2026, and are processed offline through schools. The latest state-specific application deadline is November 30, 2026, for Rajasthan, while Assam’s last date to apply is November 8, 2026.

Exam dates are also set by individual states. The NMMS exam for Odisha 2026-27 is scheduled for December 6, 2026, with candidates able to download admit cards from November 30 to December 6, 2026. Andhra Pradesh’s exam is rescheduled to November 29, 2026, from November 15, while Delhi’s exam is on December 5, 2026. Maharashtra’s exam is slated for December 20, 2026.

Eligibility and Examination Structure

Students currently studying in Class 8 in a government, government-aided, or local body school are eligible to apply for the NMMS 2026-27. A key criterion is that the parental income from all sources must not exceed ₹3.5 lakh per year. To sit the exam, students must have secured at least 55% or an equivalent grade in Class 7 (50% for SC/ST students). Upon selection, candidates must maintain at least 55% or equivalent in Class 8 (50% for SC/ST students) to receive the scholarship.

The State Level Examination, conducted by the State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), consists of two tests: the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Both tests comprise 90 multiple-choice questions and have a duration of 90 minutes each. To qualify, students must achieve an aggregate of at least 40% in SAT and MAT combined (32% for SC/ST students). The scholarship amount of ₹12,000 per annum is provided to continue secondary education in Government or Aided schools from Class 9 to Class 12, for a maximum of four years.

Application Procedure and Required Documents

The NMMS application process is conducted through the official National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in. The NSP has implemented One-Time Registration (OTR) for students. Applicants must first register by entering a mobile number and OTP, followed by eKYC verification. After receiving an OTR, students can log in to the portal to apply for the NMMSS Scholarship.

Required documents for the NMMS application include two recent passport-size photos, an income certificate, a caste certificate (if applicable), a disability certificate (if required), a mark sheet (Class 7 or 8), proof of residence, and an Aadhaar Card. Applicants are advised to double-check all submitted details before final submission. NMMS results can be accessed through the official website of the respective state’s SCERT.

1. Applicants must visit the official website of the National Scholarship Portal (https://scholarships.gov.in/).
2. Applicants must click on the “Apply For One-Time Registration (OTR)” section.
3. Applicants must agree to the guidelines and click “Next”.
4. Applicants must register by entering a mobile number and OTP, then click “Verify”.
5. Applicants must complete eKYC verification.
6. After receiving an OTR, applicants must visit the official website of the National Scholarship Portal again.
7. Applicants must click on the “Apply For Scholarship” button.
8. Applicants must fill in the required details and click “Login”.
9. Applicants must navigate to the “Apply for NMMSS Scholarship” section and click on it.
10. Applicants must fill all required details and upload required documents on the application page.
11. Applicants must submit the request and double-check submitted details.

Further reading

• NMMS: Class 8 students, apply by October 31, 2026
• NMMS 2026-27: Apply on NSP by October 31; state dates vary
• ITM Navi Mumbai MBA iConnect 2027 admissions open: apply by October 24 for 15% scholarship
• GATE 2027 registration portal reopened by IIT Madras: apply with late fees by October 16
• NMMS 2026-27: DNOs, verify by October 31. Students, download admit card soon

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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