NMMS Karnataka 2026-27: Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) |
| Conducting Body | DSERT / KSEAB, Karnataka |
| Exam Level | State Level |
| Eligibility | Class 8 students in Govt./Govt.-aided/Local Body schools |
| Scholarship Amount | ₹12,000 per year (Class 9 to Class 12) |
| Total State Quota | 5,534 scholarships |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen-and-Paper) |
| Number of Papers | 2 (MAT and SAT) |
| Official Websites | dsert.karnataka.gov.in / kseab.karnataka.gov.in |
NMMS Karnataka 2026-27: Important Dates
| Event | 2026-27 (Tentative) |
| Application Form Release | September 2026 (1st week) |
| Application Last Date | October 2026 (2nd week) |
| Extended Last Date | November 2026 (2nd week) |
| Admit Card Release | January 2027 |
| Exam Date | January/February 2027 |
| Provisional Answer Key | February 2027 |
| Final Answer Key | February 2027 (2nd week) |
| Result Declaration | March/April 2027 |
NMMS Karnataka 2026-27: Eligibility Criteria
Students must satisfy all of the following conditions before applying.
Academic Eligibility
1. Must be enrolled as a regular Class 8 student in the 2026-27 academic year.
2. Must have scored a minimum of 55% in the Class 7 final examination (50% for SC/ST candidates).
School Type Eligibility
1. Must be studying in a Government, Government-aided, or Local Body school in Karnataka.
2. Students from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools, and state residential schools (Morarji Desai, Kittur Rani Chennamma, Navodaya, Vajpayee, Eklavya, KGBV, Ambedkar Hostels) are NOT eligible.
Income Eligibility
Renewal Eligibility (For Continuing the Scholarship)
1. Class 10: Must score at least 55% in Class 9 exams.
2. Class 12: Must score at least 55% in Class 11 exams.
3. Must score a minimum of 60% in the Class 10 board examination.
4. 5% relaxation applies to SC/ST students at each renewal stage.
NMMS Karnataka 2026-27 Application Form: How to Apply?
Step 1: Visit the official website, kseab.karnataka.gov.in.
Step 2: Log in using the school’s official credentials on the NMMS portal.
Step 3: Navigate to “Apply for NMMS Karnataka Examination 2026-27.”
Step 4: Fill in the student’s details, name, date of birth, class, Aadhaar number, parent’s income, category, and bank account information.
Step 5: Upload scanned copies of all required documents in the specified format (PDF/JPEG).
Step 6: Verify all details carefully and click Submit.
Step 7: Download and print the submitted application form for school records.
Documents Required for NMMS Karnataka 2026-27
1. Recent passport-size photographs (2 copies)
2. Income Certificate from a competent authority (annual income ≤ ₹3,50,000)
3. Caste Certificate (for SC/ST/OBC candidates)
4. Class 7 Mark Sheet (showing minimum 55% marks)
5. Student’s Aadhaar Card
6. Bank Account Details (Aadhaar-linked, for PFMS disbursement)
7. School Enrollment Proof / Bonafide Certificate
8. Disability Certificate (for CWSN candidates, if applicable)
NMMS Karnataka 2026-27: Exam Pattern
| Paper | Test Name | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | Mental Ability Test (MAT) | 90 MCQs | 90 | 90 minutes |
| Paper 2 | Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) | 90 MCQs | 90 | 90 minutes |
| Total | 180 MCQs | 180 | 3 Hours |
Key Points
1. All questions are MCQs with four options.
2. No negative marking; unanswered questions carry zero marks.
3. Each correct answer carries +1 mark.
4. CWSN (disabled) candidates get an additional 30 minutes per paper.
5. The exam is conducted in Kannada and English medium.
NMMS Karnataka 2026-27: Syllabus
There is no rigidly prescribed syllabus. Questions are based on the Class 7 and Class 8 curriculum of the Karnataka State Board and NCERT.
Paper 1: Mental Ability Test (MAT)
The MAT assesses verbal and non-verbal reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical ability. Key topics include analogies, classification and series, pattern completion, coding-decoding, figure-based problems, logical reasoning, numerical aptitude, and hidden figures/mirror images.
Paper 2: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
| Subject | Number of Questions |
| Science | 35 |
| Social Science | 35 |
| Mathematics | 20 |
| Total | 90 |
NMMS Karnataka 2026-27: Admit Card
The admit card (hall ticket) for 2026-27 is expected to be released tentatively in January 2027.
1. Available for download via the school portal at kseab.karnataka.gov.in.
2. The school Headmaster downloads and distributes it to registered students.
3. Students must carry the admit card along with a valid photo ID to the exam centre.
4. The admit card contains the roll number, candidate name, exam centre address, exam date and time and instructions.
Also Read – NMMS Telangana
NMMS Karnataka 2026-27: Answer Key
| Event | Expected 2026-27 |
| Provisional Answer Key | February 2027 |
| Objection Window | February 2027 |
| Final Answer Key | February 2027 (2nd week) |
How to Check the NMMS Karnataka 2026-27 Result?
Step 1: Visit the official website — dsert.karnataka.gov.in.
Step 2: Click on “NTSE/NMMS Marks/Result.”
Step 3: Select “District Wise Marks List of NMMS Examination 2026-27.”
Step 4: Choose your district from the dropdown.
Step 5: A PDF merit list will open, search for your name or registration number.
NMMS Karnataka 2026-27: Scholarship Amount & Disbursement
| Class | Scholarship Per Year |
| Class 9 | ₹12,000 |
| Class 10 | ₹12,000 |
| Class 11 | ₹12,000 |
| Class 12 | ₹12,000 |
| Total (4 Years) | ₹48,000 |
Note: The scholarship is disbursed in two installments of ₹6,000 each per year, credited directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account via PFMS.
Also Read – NMMS Rajasthan
After the Result: Next Steps for Selected Students
Step 1: Check the district-wise merit list on dsert.karnataka.gov.in.
Step 2: Submit the required documents and bank details to your school immediately.
Step 3: The school forwards all documents to the district education office for verification.
Step 4: Register on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in to activate scholarship disbursement.
Step 5: Maintain the required academic scores at each renewal stage to keep the scholarship active.
NMMS Karnataka 2026-27 – FAQs
Who conducts the NMMS Karnataka 2026-27 exam?
The NMMS Karnataka exam is conducted jointly by DSERT (Department of State Educational Research and Training) and KSEAB (Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board).
What is the NMMS Karnataka scholarship amount for 2026-27?
Under NMMS Karnataka, selected students receive ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000/month) from Class 9 to Class 12, totalling ₹48,000 over four years.
Is there negative marking in the NMMS Karnataka exam?
No, there is no negative marking in the NMMS Karnataka exam. Students are encouraged to attempt all 180 questions.
Can a student apply individually for NMMS Karnataka 2026-27?
No. The school Principal/Headmaster submits the NMMS Karnataka application on behalf of eligible students through the KSEAB portal.
When will the NMMS Karnataka 2026-27 result be declared?
Based on past trends, the NMMS Karnataka 2026-27 result is expected in March or April 2027. The 2025-26 result was declared on April 9, 2026.