NMMS Maharashtra: Apply by October 14, 2026

The Maharashtra State Board of Examination, Pune, has extended the deadline for submitting application forms for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) Maharashtra 2026-27 without a late fee. Students can now apply until October 14, 2026, a revision from the previous deadline of October 7, 2026.

The application process, which began on September 8, 2026, is for the scholarship exam scheduled for December 20, 2026. This scheme aims to provide financial aid to meritorious students from economically weaker sections, helping them continue their education from Class 9 to Class 12.

Application Process and Key Dates

Students are required to complete the NMMS Maharashtra application form 2026-27 through their respective schools. The head of the institution can access the application form from the official website, 2027.2026.mscenmms.in. The regular application fee is approximately ₹120 per student, while applications submitted after the extended deadline will incur a late fee of approximately ₹240 per student, as the extra-fee category has been cancelled.

The Maharashtra State Council Of Examination, Pune, will conduct the exam. The admit cards for the NMMS Maharashtra exam 2026-27 are expected to be released in December 2026. The provisional answer key will be released in January 2027, with the final answer key also in January 2027. Results are anticipated in February 2027.

Eligibility Criteria and Exam Structure

To be eligible for the NMMS Maharashtra scholarship, students must be studying in Class 8 as regular students in a Government, Government-aided, or local body school in India. They must have secured a minimum of 55% marks or an equivalent grade in their Class 7 examination, with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST students. The annual parental income from all sources must not exceed ₹3,50,000. Students already receiving any other Central Government scholarship or those studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Sainik Schools, private/self-financed schools, or fully residential government schools are not eligible.

The NMMS Maharashtra exam consists of two papers: the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Both papers will be conducted on the same day, with no negative marking. Each paper comprises 90 questions for 90 marks and has a duration of 90 minutes. General, OBC, and EWS candidates need a minimum of 40% in combined MAT and SAT (72 out of 180) to qualify, while SC, ST, and PwD candidates require a minimum of 32% (approximately 58 out of 180).

Scholarship Benefits and Scheme Overview

The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in 2008. It aims to identify meritorious students from economically weaker sections to prevent them from dropping out after Class 8 and support their education up to Class 12. Annually, 1,00,000 scholarships are awarded across India under this scheme, with Maharashtra allocating 11,682 scholarships across its districts.

Selected students receive ₹12,000 per annum, paid directly to their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). This scholarship amount of ₹1,000 per month is provided for four years, covering Classes 9 to 12. Last year, the NMMS Maharashtra exam was held on December 28, 2025, with application forms available from September 12 to October 21, 2025.

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.

View all posts →

Further reading

• NMMS West Bengal 2026-27 application correction window closes October 13
• NMAT 2026 registration extended: apply and book slots by October 25
• Maharashtra BEd CAP round 3 list out: report to colleges by 13 October
• Maharashtra B.Ed. third merit list 2026 out: report to colleges by October 13
• TMC Recruitment 2026 notification out for 57 posts, apply online before October 28