NMMS 2026: Odisha candidates, download admit card Nov 30-Dec 6. Exam Dec 6

In short

The NMMS Admit Card 2026-27 is tentatively scheduled for release in October/November 2026 by state SCERTs or education departments.
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Examination 2026-27 will be conducted in November/December 2026, with Odisha's exam on 06 December 2026.
Candidates can download their admit cards from official state websites or obtain them from their respective schools.
The scholarship provides ₹12,000 per year to qualifying Class 8 students from economically weaker sections, from Class 9 to Class 12.
The exam includes a Mental Ability Test (MAT) and a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), both with 90 multiple-choice questions each.

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and state education departments are expected to release the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Admit Card 2026-27 in October/November 2026. This scholarship scheme aims to support students from economically weaker sections to continue their education beyond Class 8.

Official notification screenshot — Screenshot of the official page at nmms.odisha.gov.in

The NMMS examination 2026-27 is tentatively scheduled for November/December 2026. For Odisha, the examination is specifically set for 06 December 2026, with admit card downloads available from 30 November 2026 to 06 December 2026. The NMMS 2026 Admit Card has officially been released, according to govtpoint.com, while the NMMS examination for Rajasthan in 2026 is scheduled for 16 November 2025, Sunday, from 2:00 PM to 05:00 PM, as per rajshaladarpan.rajasthan.gov.in.

NMMS 2026-27 Examination Schedule and Admit Card Access

The NMMS Admit Card 2026-27 will be made available by the respective SCERTs or education departments of each state. Candidates will be able to access the download link on the official websites of these bodies or collect their admit cards directly from their schools. The examination dates vary by state, with a general window of November/December 2026.

For Odisha, a detailed schedule has been released, outlining the application process, verification, and admit card download dates. The online application period for candidates concluded on 02 October 2026, with subsequent verification processes by school headmasters and District Education Offices.

Sl No.	Activity	Date
1	Online filling up of Application Forms by candidates and submission of hard copies in schools by students	17-08-2026 to 02-10-2026
2	Submission of countersigned hard copies of Application Forms by the Headmasters / Headmistress to the DEOs (online and offline)	by 15-10-2026
3	Verification of Application Forms by District Education Office	by 25-10-2026
4	Download of Admit Cards by the Candidates	30.11.2026 to 06.12.2026
5	The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Examination 2026-27 is to be held on	06.12.2026

Events	Dates
NMMS Admit card 2026-27 Release date	October/November 2026
NMMS 2026-27 exam date	November/ December 2026

Scholarship Details and Exam Structure

The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) is a centrally sponsored initiative by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Its primary objective is to reduce dropout rates among students after Class 8 and encourage bright students from financially weaker backgrounds to pursue secondary education. Qualifying students receive a scholarship of ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000 per month) from Class 9 to Class 12, subject to continuation criteria.

The NMMS exam is conducted for Class 8 students and consists of two parts: the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Both sections comprise 90 multiple-choice questions each, and candidates are allotted 90 minutes for each section. There is no negative marking in the NMMS exam. The minimum qualifying marks are 40% for the General Category and 32% for the Reserved Category. The examination is conducted offline, using a pen-and-paper format.

Admit Card Information and Exam Day Instructions

The NMMS Admit Card will contain essential details such as the candidate’s full name, roll number, date of birth, name and address of the exam centre, exam date and reporting time, candidate’s photograph and signature, details of exam papers, and important instructions. Candidates are advised to review all information on their admit card carefully. In case of any discrepancies, candidates can report them to the liaison officer and chief superintendent for rectification.

On the day of the examination, candidates are required to carry a printed copy of their NMMS Admit Card and a Blue/Black Ball Point Pen. Mobile phones, calculators, and smartwatches are strictly prohibited inside the examination hall. The NMMS Admit Card 2025-26 was released from 01 December 2025 onwards, with exams conducted from 16 November 2025 to March 2026, providing a precedent for the upcoming cycle.

Candidates must download their admit cards from 30 November 2026 to 06 December 2026 (Odisha specific).
Candidates must visit their state’s official exam/education website and log in with their details to download the admit card.
Candidates must take a clear printout of the admit card to carry to the exam hall.
Candidates should check all details on the admit card carefully and report any mismatch immediately to the school or district education office.
Candidates must carry their printed NMMS Admit Card and a Blue/Black Ball Point Pen on the exam day.

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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