Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities 2026: Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria are fairly specific, and missing even one of them can get an application rejected, so it’s worth going through each point carefully.
- You must belong to one of the six communities notified as minorities by the Government of India: Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Zoroastrian (Parsi), or Jain.
- You must be enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate technical or professional course at a recognised institution.
- You must have scored at least 50% marks (or the equivalent grade) in your most recent qualifying examination.
- Your family’s total annual income, from all sources combined, must not exceed ₹2,50,000.
If you meet all four, you’re eligible to apply, but keep in mind that renewal in subsequent years still depends on maintaining that 50% mark in each preceding exam.
Also Read – National Scholarship
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities 2026 – Benefits
The scholarship is structured around two components: a course fee reimbursement and a monthly maintenance allowance, both paid out for the full academic year of 10 months.
What is covered under the MOMA Scholarship?
| Particulars | Scholarship Benefit |
|---|---|
| Course fee | Up to ₹20,000 per year, or actual fee, whichever is lower (hostellers and day scholars) |
| Maintenance allowance | ₹1,000/month for hostellers, ₹500/month for day scholars (paid for 10 months) |
| Students at listed institutes | Full course fee reimbursed at 85 specific listed institutions |
Students enrolled at one of the 85 institutes recognised under this scheme get their entire course fee covered, rather than being capped at the ₹20,000 limit that applies elsewhere. It’s worth checking whether your institution is on that list before you estimate your total benefit.
How to Apply for MOMA Scholarship 2026?
Step-by-Step Application Process for MOMA Scholarship
- Visit the National Scholarship Portal and register as a new user.
- Fill in your domicile details, name, date of birth, gender, mobile number, and email ID, and select the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities.
- You’ll receive an OTP on your registered mobile number – use it to verify your account.
- Log in with the OTP and complete the full application form.
- On submission, you’ll get an application ID and password – save these, as you’ll need them to track your application status later.
One important thing to note: once submitted, you can’t edit the application. You can save a draft and return to it multiple times before final submission, but you can’t correct it afterwards, so review everything carefully before you hit submit.
Also Read – Karnataka Scholarships
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities 2026 – Documents Required
Before you start the application, keep these ready. Most rejections at the verification stage happen because of missing or mismatched documents, not ineligibility.
List of Required Documents for MOMA Scholarship
- Domicile certificate for your state of residence
- Self-declaration of minority community status
- Self-attested copy of your most recent academic mark sheet
- Aadhaar card or Aadhaar enrolment slip
- Income certificate issued by the relevant state/UT authority
- Bank account details – the account must be in the student’s name, or a joint account with a parent
- A recent passport-size photograph
MOMA Scholarship 2026 – Terms and Conditions
A few rules apply beyond just eligibility, and they affect how the scholarship is actually distributed:
- 30% of scholarships are reserved for female students. If there aren’t enough eligible female applicants in a given cycle, these seats go to eligible male students instead.
- 60,000 scholarships are distributed in total each cycle among minority-community students who qualify.
- State and UT-wise distribution is based on the minority population figures from the Census.
- You receive the scholarship based on your state or UT of residence – not where you’re studying, so students who’ve moved for college aren’t disadvantaged.
- The amount is transferred directly to the student’s bank account.
- Renewal each year depends on maintaining at least 50% marks in the previous year’s examination.
- A maximum of two students per family can receive this scholarship at the same time.
- You can avail only one central government scholarship at a time among the SC/ST/OBC/minority category schemes; this one can’t be combined with another from that group.
- The scholarship does not cover internships or other practical training components of a course.
- If you discontinue your course or switch your subject of study, you may be asked to refund the scholarship already disbursed.
- Your bank account needs to stay active for as long as the scholarship is being paid out.
MOMA Scholarship 2026 – Contact Details
Email ID: helpdesk@nsp.gov.in | Phone Number: (0120) 6619540
Also Read – NMMS 2026
MOMA Scholarship 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities?
Students from India’s six notified minority communities – Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, and Jain – who are pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate technical/professional courses, have scored at least 50% in their last exam, and whose family income is under ₹2,50,000 a year.
How do I apply for this scholarship?
Through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). You register, fill in your details, verify your mobile number via OTP, and complete the application form online.
What is the maximum file size for documents uploaded on NSP?
Each document should be under 200 KB and in either PDF or JPEG format.
Can I edit my application after submitting it?
No. You can edit any field except your registration details before final submission, and you can save your progress as a draft as many times as needed, but once submitted, no changes are possible.
How do I check my application status?
Log in to NSP using your application ID and password, then click on ‘Check Your Status’ to view your current application stage.