NMMSS Scholarship 2026 Application Deadline Extended Till October 31 ; Check Eligibility And Apply At scholarships.gov.in

The Ministry of Education has extended the application deadline for the NMMSS Scholarship 2026 until October 31. Eligible students can apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in. One-time registration on the NSP is mandatory before applying for the scholarship for the 2026-27 project year. Once selected, the scholarship amount of ₹12,000 annually will be directly transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts via the DBT scheme under the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

To be eligible, a student's parents' income must not exceed ₹3.50 lakh annually, and they must have secured at least 55% marks in Class VII. The minimum percentage is reduced by 5% for SC/ST category students. Only students enrolled in State Government/Government-aided/local body schools are eligible. Candidates must also pass the scholarship selection examination conducted by the respective state or UT government.

NMMSS is managed by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education. Its goal is to reduce the dropout rate after Class VIII and encourage meritorious students from weaker economic backgrounds to continue their studies until the higher secondary level. Approximately one lakh new scholarships are awarded annually to Class IX eligible students based on a selection test held by the state or UT government.

The scholarship is renewed annually from Class X to XII, provided the students maintain the academic criteria. The Ministry has encouraged all eligible students to take advantage of the extended deadline and complete their applications on the NSP before the deadline.