NMMSS Scholarship 2026-27: Education Ministry Extends Application Deadline to September 30
New Delhi: The Ministry of Education has extended the deadline for selected meritorious students to submit applications for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) 2026-27 through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
As per the revised schedule, eligible students can now submit their scholarship applications on the NSP portal until September 30, 2026. The deadlines for subsequent verification stages have also been extended.
NMMSS 2026-27: Revised Important Dates
- Last date for submission of application: September 30, 2026
- Last date for Institute Nodal Officer (L1/INO) verification: October 15, 2026
- Last date for District Nodal Officer (L2/DNO) verification: October 31, 2026
The NSP portal has been accepting NMMSS applications since June 1, 2026.
One-Time Registration Required on NSP
For the 2026-27 project year, selected students are required to complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal. After completing OTR, students can apply for the scholarship scheme for which they have been selected.
Students who have already submitted their applications should also ensure that their applications are completed and verified by the concerned nodal authorities within the prescribed timelines.
What is NMMSS?
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme is implemented by the Department of School Education & Literacy under the Ministry of Education.
The scheme aims to support meritorious students from economically weaker sections and reduce school dropouts after Class VIII. It encourages students to continue their education through the secondary and higher secondary levels up to Class XII.
Under NMMSS, one lakh fresh scholarships are awarded every year to eligible Class IX students who qualify in the selection examination conducted by the respective State or Union Territory government.
The scholarship is subsequently continued through renewal from Classes X to XII, subject to the prescribed academic performance criteria.
NMMSS Scholarship Amount
Selected students receive a scholarship of ₹12,000 per annum.
The scholarship amount is transferred directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode using the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
The scheme is applicable to students studying in:
- State Government schools
- Government-aided schools
- Local body schools
NMMSS Eligibility Criteria
Students must fulfil the prescribed eligibility conditions to avail the scholarship. These include:
- Parental annual income: Not more than ₹3.50 lakh
- Academic requirement: At least 55% marks or equivalent grade in the Class VII examination for appearing in the scholarship selection test
- The minimum marks requirement is relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students
- The student must be studying in an eligible State Government, Government-aided or local body school.
Two-Level Verification on NSP
NMMSS applications undergo two levels of verification on the National Scholarship Portal:
- Level 1 (L1): Verification by the Institute Nodal Officer (INO)
- Level 2 (L2): Verification by the District Nodal Officer (DNO)
The Ministry has advised students to complete their applications within the extended deadline and ensure that their applications proceed through the required verification stages.
As of August 31, 2026, a total of 79,398 fresh applications and 1,87,208 renewal applications had been submitted on the NSP portal.
Eligible students are advised to complete the application process within the revised timeline and regularly check the National Scholarship Portal for further updates.
Click Here for More scholarship