NMMS 2026: Download admit card now for Nov 1 UP, Telangana, HP exams

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) for Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh have issued the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) admit cards for the 2026-27 examination cycle in October 2026. These examinations are scheduled to commence on November 1, 2026, in these states.

The NMMS scheme, launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Education, aims to provide financial assistance to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to reduce dropout rates after Class 8. Approximately one lakh fresh scholarships are awarded annually, with qualifying students receiving ₹12,000 per annum for Classes 9 to 12 through Direct Benefit Transfer.

NMMS Admit Card Release and Examination Schedule

Admit cards for the NMMS 2026-27 examination are being released in both online and offline formats across various states and Union Territories. Students in states like Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, where exams are set for November 1, 2026, can access their hall tickets online through the official state SCERT websites by providing their application number, username, and password.

For some states, the NMMS exam hall tickets will be distributed offline via the respective schools. Candidates are required to bring their NMMS hall ticket to the examination hall and arrive at the centre at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. The examination cycle for 2026-27 is expected to run from October 2026 to May 2027.

National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Application and Verification Deadlines

The application window for the NMMS Scholarship 2026-27 on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) opened on June 1, 2026. The deadline for submitting fresh and renewal applications has been extended to October 31, 2026. This marks the second extension from the original closing date of August 31, 2026, which was first extended to September 30, 2026.

Following student applications, the verification process involves multiple stages. The deadline for Institute Nodal Officer (L1) verification was initially October 15, 2026, and has been extended to November 15, 2026. The DNO / SNO / MNO (L2) verification deadline was October 30, 2026, and is now extended to November 30, 2026. The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, oversees the NMMS Scholarship Scheme.

NMMS Examination Structure and Eligibility Criteria

The NMMS examination consists of two papers: the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Both papers comprise 90 multiple-choice questions, each with a duration of 90 minutes. The MAT assesses verbal and non-verbal reasoning abilities, including analogy, classification, numerical series, pattern perception, and hidden figures. The SAT covers Science, Social Science, and Mathematics content as taught in Classes 7 and 8, based on NCERT syllabi. There is no negative marking in the NMMS exam.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be studying in a Government, Government-aided, or local body school. The parental income limit from all sources is ₹3,50,000 per year. General category students must score at least 40% in each paper individually, while SC/ST students require a minimum of 35%. The scholarship is not applicable for diploma or certificate courses. Required documents for application include recent passport-size photos, income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), disability certificate (if required), Class 7 or 8 mark sheet photocopy, proof of residence, and Aadhaar Card.

Further reading

• NMMS: Telangana, Himachal candidates, download admit cards by Nov 1 exam
• NMMS 2026-27 exam dates announced for Odisha, admit card download from 30 November
• NMMS admit card 2026-27 download from 30 November; exam on 06 December
• NICL Assistant Mains admit card 2026 released: download by October 30 exam
• JTET 2026 mock test link activated: check admit card download steps and exam schedule

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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