The Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi, has announced the NMMSS 2026 schedule for Class 8 students. The examination is set to begin in December, with Delhi registrations open from September 9 to October 5, 2026. Under this centrally sponsored scheme by the Ministry of Education, state-specific application deadlines vary: Himachal Pradesh extends to September 21, 2026; Andhra Pradesh runs from September 11 to October 12, 2026; Maharashtra spans September 8 to October 7, 2026; Chandigarh and Kerala close on September 30, 2026; while Haryana, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan accept applications through September and October 2026. Eligible students must register via their schools.
NMMS – Important Dates
| State | Application Timeline |
| NMMS Himachal Pradesh | September 21, 2026 (extended) |
| NMMS Andhra Pradesh | September 11, 2026 to October 12, 2026 |
| NMMS Delhi | September 9, 2026 to October 5, 2026 |
| NMMS Chandigarh | Till September 30, 2026 |
| NMMS Telangana | September 5, 2026 |
| NMMS Kerala | September 30, 2026 |
| NMMS Manipur | August–October 2026 |
| NMMS Maharashtra | September 8, 2026 to October 7, 2026 |
| NMMS Haryana | September – October 2026 |
| NMMS Karnataka | September – October 2026 |
| NMMS Uttarakhand | September – October 2026 |
| NMMS Rajasthan | September – October 2026 |
Who can apply for NMMS Scholarship?
To apply for NMMS one must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must be promoted from Class 8 to Class 9 to be eligible to start receiving the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship.
- To continue the scholarship in Classes 10 and 12, awardees must be promoted from Class 9 to 10 and from Class 11 to 12 in their first attempt.
- Awardees must obtain a minimum of 60% marks in the Class 10 examination (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students) to continue receiving the scholarship.
- The annual family income of the applicants should not exceed ₹3,50,000.
- Applicants must not be receiving scholarships under any other Central Government Scholarship scheme.
- This scholarship is not applicable for study abroad or for diploma/certificate level courses.
- Students studying in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are not eligible for this scheme.
How to Apply for NMMS 2026?
The application for the NMMS is done through the official National Scholarship Portal. NSP has implemented the One-Time Registration (OTR) for students, it is mandatory for every student applying for various scholarship schemes under the National Scholarship Portal. In order to move forward with a scholarship application, it is first necessary to register yourself in the portal which will help you generate your unique OTR number. OTR enables students to register once and create a unique profile that can be used for all scholarship applications. The process of application to NMMS is provided below.
Registering and OTR Generation via NSP
Step 1: Applicants first have to visit the official website of the National Scholarship Portal. (https://scholarships.gov.in/)
Step 2: Proceed to click on the “Apply For One-Time Registration (OTR)” section located in the top left corner of the homepage.
Step 3: On clicking that button, the following page will appear. Ensure that you are in the “Register” section of the page.
Step 4: At the bottom of the page, you will see two boxes under the “I Agree To The Following” section. You need to agree to the guidelines in order to move forward; click “Next”.
Step 6: After registering your phone number, you will need to do an eKYC verification.
Step 7: On completing the KYC verification, you will receive an OTR that can be used for the NMMSS application.
How to fill NMMSS Application Form 2026?
Step 1: After registering yourself on NSP, applicants first have to visit the official website of the National Scholarship Portal.
Step 2: Navigate to the top left corner of the page and click on the “Apply For Scholarship” button.
Step 3: The following picture will display, fill in the required details and click “Login”.
Step 4: After, navigate to the “Apply for NMMSS Scholarship” section and click on it.
Step 5: An application page will open, there you must fill all the required details, along with the required documents.
Step 6: After completing the application, submit the request. Ensure you double-check the submitted details to avoid mistakes.
Documents Required for NMMS
The following documents are necessary for the application of the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme:
- 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
Selection Procedure for NMMS
The selection of candidates for NMMS is based on examinations conducted by each respective state/UT. Each test lasts 90 minutes, and children with disabilities receive extra time if needed. Students must maintain the required academic level to continue receiving the award. The final list of selected candidates is prepared based on their performance in the state-level test. The test follows the pattern as explained below:
- Mental Ability Test (MAT): The Mental Ability Test consists of 90 multiple-choice questions designed to assess the reasoning and critical thinking skills of scholars. Topics include analogy, classification, numerical series, pattern perception, and hidden figures.
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): It also includes 90 multiple-choice questions on physics, social studies, and mathematics, which are taught in the syllabus of classes 7 and 8.
NMMS- How to Check Results
The result of each applicant can be accessed through their own state SCERT. SCERT stands for State Council of Educational Research and Training and it is responsible for admission, examination and certification of private recognised ETE and ECCE Institutions. The NMMS results can be accessed through the following steps:
Step 1: Visit the official website of your respective state’s SCERT.
Step 2: In each portal there will be a section titled “Result”/ “NMMS Results”. Look for that section and click on it.
Step 3: A PDF will be linked to it and on clicking, it should appear.
Step 4: Download the PDF and search for your name to view the results.
State-Wise NMMS Result 2026
The table below provides an overview of each state’s SCERT along with the respective link to check NMMS result 2026. It serves as a convenient reference for accessing state portals and staying updated on important timelines.
NMMS Result Link 2026
| State | SCERT |
| West Bengal | scertwb.org |
| Uttar Pradesh | scert-up.in |
| Telangana | scert.telangana.gov.in |
| Sikkim | scertsikkim.ac.in |
| Rajasthan | rscertudai.rajasthan.gov.in |
| Punjab | http://scert.epunjabschool.gov.in/ |
| Odisha | scertodisha.nic.in |
| Madhya Pradesh | scert.mp.gov.in |
| Meghalaya | megeducation.gov.in/dert |
| Maharashtra | maa.ac.in |
| Kerala | scert.kerala.gov.in |
| Karnataka | dsert.karnataka.gov.in |
| Jammu and Kashmir | sites.google.com/view/scertjk-jmudiv |
| Himachal Pradesh | scerthp.org |
| Haryana | scertharyana.gov.in |
| Gujarat | gujarat-education.gov.in/scert |
| New Delhi | edudel.nic.in |
| Chhattisgarh | scert.cg.gov.in |
| Bihar | scert.bihar.gov.in |
| Andhra Pradesh | scert.ap.gov.in |
NMMS Cutoff 2026
NMMS 2026 cut off is the minimum marks that the students would need to be considered eligible for the respective state-specific scholarships through MAT and SAT. The NMMS cutoff 2026 varies as per category of the student.
NMMSS 2026 Cutoff
| Paper | General Category | Reserved Category (SC/ST/PH) |
| MAT | 40% | 32% |
| SAT | 40% | 32% |
Scholarship Benefits and Disbursement of NMMS
Scholarship Benefits: The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) aims to award 100,000 scholarships to meritorious students whose parental annual income is not more than ₹3,50,000. Selected students will receive ₹12,000 annually (₹1,000 per month), provided that they meet the eligibility and demonstrate continued academic excellence.
Scholarship Disbursement: Selected students will be required to open bank accounts, preferably with the State Bank of India (SBI), any other public sector bank, or a scheduled bank that offers core banking facilities. Only the final list of students, verified at all requisite levels, will be considered for the sanctioning of scholarship funds. Disbursement will be carried out through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), directly into the bank accounts provided by the students. It is important to note that the scholarship will be discontinued if the renewal application is not submitted within the specified timeframe.
NMMS Grievance Redressal Mechanism
The grievance redressal mechanism is a feature that enables students to address any scholarship related issue. Students can utilise this feature to address and get solutions for all issues related to scholarship from the application, disbursement, etc. The steps for grievance redressal are given in the image below.
Given below are the detailed steps of how your grievance can be redressed.
Step 1: Visit the official NSP website and click on the top left corner.
Step 2: From the drop down list, click on the “Grievance Registration” under the “Public” section.
Step 3: A page will open where you will need to select the relevant option from the tab – applicant/institution/district/state/ministry.
Step 4: After clicking the appropriate option, another page will open. There you must fill in the required details; OTR number, OTR password and Captcha in order to proceed.
Step 5: Once all required details are filled in, click the “Login” button at the bottom of the page.
Step 6: After logging in successfully, navigate to the ‘Complaint’ section on the dashboard.
Step 7: Select the appropriate category of grievance, provide a clear description of the issue, and upload any supporting documents if required.
Step 8: Then, click the ‘Submit’ button to register the complaint.
Grievances which are not taken up for redressal:
- RTI Matters
- Court related / Subjudice matters
- Religious matters
- Suggestions
Links to State Scholarship Portal
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) is not open to all students, as its eligibility criteria can be restrictive. What often goes unnoticed is that most Indian states operate their own dedicated scholarship portals. These state-specific platforms are tailored to meet regional educational and financial needs. Listed below are the official links to each state’s scholarship portal, providing students with alternative opportunities in case they do not qualify for the NMMS.
| States | Relevant Links |
| Tamil Nadu | dge.tn.gov.in |
| Assam | madhyamik.assam.gov.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 |
| Manipur | manipur.gov.in |
| Daman & Diu | daman.nic.in |
| Chandigarh | siechd.nic.in |
| Uttarakhand | scert.uk.gov.in |
| Tripura | scertonline.tripura.gov.in |
| Goa | scert.goa.gov.in |
| Odisha | ntse.scertodisha.nic.in |
Also Read: Scholarship Status: How to Check Online Status for NSP, UP, Bihar & Other State Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I apply for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme?
You can apply for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), whether it's a fresh or renewal application.
What is the merit of the NMMS exam 2026?
Students must secure an aggregate score of at least 40% across both the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) papers to qualify for the NMMS Scholarship, with a relaxed requirement of 32% for SC and ST candidates. Additionally, applicants must achieve a minimum of 55% overall marks in their Class 8 academic examination.
Who is eligible for the NMMS?
Students from Class 9 to 12 with an annual family income below ₹3.5 lakhs are eligible. Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are not eligible.
Do I have to fill up the online application in one sitting?
No, you can use the 'Save Draft' feature on the NSP portal to complete your application in multiple sittings before final submission.
What is the amount of the NMMS scholarship for Assam in 2026?
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) amount for Assam in 2026 is ₹12,000 per annum (₹1,000 per month).
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