National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Scheme: Latest Deadline, Eligibility Criteria, and More

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025 – The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is an initiative introduced by the Government of India in May 2008 to assist deserving students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The primary goal of this initiative is to lower dropout rates among students who complete Class 8 and encourage them to continue their education at the secondary level.

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The NMMSS offers a scholarship of ₹12,000 per student for a year (₹1,000 per month) to those qualifying from Class 9 to 12 in government, government-aided, or local body institutions. In order to qualify, students must have a family income of not more than ₹3,50,000 per year. They must have scored at least 55% marks in their Class 8 examination. There is a provision of 5% relaxation for SC/ST candidates.

The selection process involves an examination which is conducted by state governments in two stages – Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Since its inception, the scheme has successfully awarded over 22 lakh scholarships, demonstrating its enormous influence on educational access for underprivileged children. 

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025 

Who can apply for NMMSS 2025?

To apply for NMMSS 2025 one must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants must be regular Class 8 students in a government, government-aided, or local body school.
  • They should score at least 55% or an equivalent grade in their Class 7 examination (with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST candidates).
  • The annual family income of the applicants should not exceed ₹3,50,000.
  • Applicants should not receive scholarships under any other Central Government Scholarship scheme.

(Note:  Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, and private schools are ineligible for this scholarship.)

How to Apply for NMMSS 2025?

In the year 2025, NSP has implemented the One-Time Registration (OTR) for students and therefore students must visit the official website and fill in a One-Time Registration (OTR) form in order to generate OTR and apply. A unique 14-digit identification number is assigned based on Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment ID (EID). The official website emphasises that the OTR simplifies the scholarship application procedure by eliminating the need for annual registration. OTR enables students to register once and create a unique profile that can be used for all scholarship applications. This eliminates the need to provide the same personal, academic, and financial information for each new scholarship. The brief outline of the method is provided below.

  • Applicants first have to visit the official website of the National Scholarship Portal and proceed to the “New Registration” or “One-Time Registration (OTR)” section.
  • Here, they have to fill in and verify all your details and submit the registration form. A registration ID will be generated. This ID should be noted for future reference.
  • After successfully completing the OTR, applicants should log in to the portal using their registration ID and password and navigate to the “Apply for NMMS Scholarship 2025” section.
  • They have to fill in the required details in the application form and submit.
  • Students should keep a printed copy of the application and the acknowledgement receipts.

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025: Documents Required 

In order to apply for the NMMSS a student needs to submit the following documents:

  • Two recent passport-size photos.
  • Income certificate obtained from a competent body proving that the parental income does not exceed ₹3,50,000 annually.
  • Caste Certificate if applicable.
  • Disability Certificate: If required, applicants should obtain a certificate of disability status from the proper authority.
  • Mark Sheet: A photocopy of the most recent examination report card (Class 7 or 8).
  • Proof of Residence: Documents verifying the applicant’s residential address may also be requested.
  • Aadhaar Card

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These documents must be reviewed and validated by the school principal before being submitted to the relevant authorities for processing the scholarship application.

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025: Links of State Portals

The deadlines for submitting applications will vary depending on the SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training) of each state or union territory. To apply, students must first register by submitting the required documentation while paying for the NMMSS exam cost for 2025. SCERTs will publish the dates for application and exam schedules on their official websites. The links for the specific states are mentioned below.

States Relevant Links
Tamil Nadu dge.tn.gov.in
Assam madhyamik.assam.gov.in 
Punjab ssapunjab.org 
Gujarat sebexam.org
Maharashtra mscepune.in
Dadra & Nagar Haveli dnh.gov.in 
Arunachal Pradesh apdhte.nic.in
Jharkhand jacexamportal.in
Mizoram scert.mizoram.gov.in
Nagaland scert.nagaland.gov.in 
Puducherry schooledn.py.gov.in
Rajasthan education.rajasthan.gov.in
Manipur manipur.gov.in
Andhra Pradesh bse.ap.gov.in
Karnataka sslc.karnataka.gov.in 
Meghalaya megeducation.gov.in
Bihar scert.bihar.gov.in
Uttar Pradesh entdata.co.in.
Haryana scertharyana.gov.in
Jammu & Kashmir jkbose.nic.in
Himachal Pradesh himachalservices.nic.in
Delhi edudel.nic.in
Daman & Diu daman.nic.in
Chandigarh siechd.nic.in
Chhattisgarh scert.cg.gov.in
Kerala nmmse.kerala.gov.in
Sikkim sikkimhrdd.org
Madhya Pradesh educationportal.mp.gov.in
Telangana bse.telangana.gov.in
Uttarakhand scert.uk.gov.in
West Bengal scholarships.wbsed.gov.in
Tripura scertonline.tripura.gov.in
Goa scert.goa.gov.in
Odisha  ntse.scertodisha.nic.in

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025: Selection Procedure

The selection of candidates for NMMS is on the basis of the examinations conducted by the respective states. It follows the pattern as explained below:

Mental Ability Test (MAT)

It consists of 90 multiple-choice questions designed to measure reasoning and critical thinking skills. Topics covered include analogy, classification, numerical series, pattern perception, and hidden figures.

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Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

It also includes 90 multiple-choice questions on physics, social studies, and mathematics, which are taught in Classes 7 and 8.

(Note: Each test lasts 90 minutes and children with disabilities will receive extra time as needed.)

To qualify for the scholarship, students must achieve at least 40% in both tests combined (32% for SC/ST students). Furthermore, they must maintain the required academic level to continue receiving the award. The final list of selected candidates is generated using their performance in the state-level test.

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025: Important Dates!

States Application Deadline
Delhi 21st September 2024
Andhra Pradesh 6th September 2024
Haryana  10th October 2024
Uttar Pradesh 28th September 2024
Karnataka 5th September 2024
Nagaland 31st August 2024
Chandigarh 30th September 2024
Himachal Pradesh 16th September 2024
Telangana 11th September 2024
Meghalaya 27th September 2024
West Bengal 27th August 2024
Bihar 7th December 2024

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025: Scholarship Benefits

Selected students receive an annual scholarship of ₹12,000, disbursed directly to their bank accounts. The recipients must open bank accounts, preferably with SBI, or with any public sector or scheduled bank that offers fundamental core banking services.

(Note: Students who do not renew their NSP applications within the time frame specified may lose their scholarship benefits.)

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025

How to Check the Exam Results?

Students need to follow the following steps to check their examination results:

  • They first have to visit the National Scholarship Portal or their state’s scholarship web page. 
  • They then have to click on the “NMMS Result” link available on the site or in the exam section and enter the required details. 
  • Students have to finally click on the ‘Submit’ button to view the examination results.

(Note: Results are issued by the respective state authorities, and therefore the applicants need to visit the relevant state portal. Applicants can also see the cut-off marks alongside their results to determine if they meet the qualifying criterion.)

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025: FAQs

What is the scholarship award for NMMSS?

Selected students/candidates will receive an annual scholarship of ₹12,000 (i.e.₹1000 per month), that will be disbursed directly to their bank accounts.

How should a student prepare for the NMMS examination?

The syllabus for the NMMS exam contains no specified topics. However, the difficulty level of the NMMS exam remains comparable to that meant for a Class 7 and 8 student. Solving the previous year question papers and some sample test papers can really help students in their preparation.

What is the passing mark for NMMS examination?

Students from unreserved category need to score at least 40% in the MAT and SAT examinations while it is 32% for those hailing from the reserved categories. 

How should I check the status of my application online?

To login, use the ‘Student Login’ option and input your Application Id and Password. Log in to view the ‘Check Your Status’ option. This option allows you to check your online status. 

How can I check whether the amount of my scholarship is credited in my bank account or not?

You may check the transaction status on PFMS portal under “Know Your Payment”

option on the home page.

What should I do if I face some technical issue while applying for a scholarship on the NSP portal?

To register a complaint, 

  • Visit the NSP website.
  • Go to Complaints 
  • Click on ‘Register Complaints’. 

You can also call on the helpline at 0120-6619540 or send your queries by email on helpdesk@nsp.gov.in to ensure redressal of their complaints.

What is the family income limit for NMMS?

To apply for NMMS, the annual family income of applicants should not exceed ₹3,50,000. 

What should I do if I forget my One Time Registration (OTR) Number?

The procedure for recollecting the OTR Number on the NSP is as follows:

  • Click on “Student -> Login ->Forgot OTR?” 
  • Fill your Aadhaar number to receive an OTP on the registered mobile number. 
  • Fill in the OTP and the captcha.
  • Click on ‘Submit’.
  • You will receive your registration details.

Do I have to fill up the online application in one sitting?

No. You can fill up the online application in many sittings using ‘Save Draft’, until you are satisfied that you have entered all desirable fields correctly. However, you will not be able to change your registration details once the registration process is successfully completed.

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  1. Source of Information: Buddy4Study app compiles details on scholarships/fellowships from government websites and private scholarship sources. Links to the official sources accompany each listing detail pages.
  2. Non-affiliation: The Buddy4Study app is not associated with any government entity in India or elsewhere. When featuring government scholarships, we rely on publicly accessible information from central and state government websites in India.

Scholarships For

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