MoE extends NMMS 2025-26 application deadline to September 30; apply on NSP portal

The Ministry of Education has extended the registration deadline for the National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) to September 30. Meritorious students belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category can apply for the educational aid through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) official website at scholarships.gov.in.

The registration window for the NMMSS scholarship was active from June 2 for the academic year 2025-26. The selected students will first have to do a one-time registration (OTR) on the NSP, following which they can apply for the scholarship scheme that they have selected.

“Scholarships are awarded to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to arrest their drop-out after elementary level (Class 8) and encourage them to complete their school education up to higher secondary level (Class 12),” the official statement reads.

Implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, the scheme provides one lakh fresh scholarships every year for Class 9 students who clear the qualifying exam.

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Who is eligible for educational grant?

It is continued through renewal mode from Classes 10 to 12 on the basis of student’s academic performance. Notably, the scholarship is applicable to students studying in state government, government-aided and local body schools.

Under the scholarship project, meritorious students will be provided Rs 12,000 per annum grant to complete their studies. The scholarship amount is directly debited into the bank accounts of selected students through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), following DBT mode, according to the official statement.

As per the eligibility criteria, students with a parental income below Rs 3.50 lakh annum and at least 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class 7 are eligible to appear for the scholarship test.

The eligibility is relaxed by 5% for Scheduled Caste (SC), and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students, it added.

“On the NSP portal, there are two levels of verification of the scholarship application of selected students, Level-1 (L1) verification is at the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) and Level-2 (L2) is with the District Nodal Officer (DNO). The last date for INO level (L1) verification is October 15 and for DNO level (L2) verification is October 31,” the official statement reads.