Students from economically weaker families have received some important relief from the government. The Ministry of Education has extended the application deadline for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2026-27.

Eligible students can now submit their scholarship applications until October 31, 2026, giving families more time to complete the process through the National Scholarship Portal.

What is the NMMSS scheme?

The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme is designed to help meritorious students from economically weaker sections continue their education after Class VIII.

Under the scheme, eligible students receive financial assistance of ₹12,000 per year. The scholarship is transferred directly to the student’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

The government provides one lakh fresh scholarships every year to eligible students entering Class IX. Subject to the required academic conditions, the scholarship can continue through Classes X, XI and XII.

New deadline: October 31, 2026

The application deadline for the 2026-27 academic year has now been extended to October 31.

Students who are applying should not wait until the last day, as the application also has to go through the required verification process.

The revised schedule is:

• Student application: October 31, 2026

• Institute-level verification: November 15, 2026

• District-level verification: November 30, 2026

Students who have already submitted their forms should also check whether their applications have been verified by the concerned authorities.

Who can apply?

The scholarship is primarily meant for students studying in state government, government-aided and local-body schools.

For appearing in the selection examination, a student generally needs to have secured at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in Class VII. Students belonging to SC and ST categories receive a five-percentage-point relaxation.

Another important condition relates to family income. The annual parental income of the applicant should not exceed ₹3.50 lakh.

One important step before applying

Students need to complete their One-Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal before submitting the scholarship application.

Therefore, students and parents should check the registration status, enter their details carefully and ensure that all required information is correct before submitting the form.

Why this extension matters

Many students miss out on government scholarships simply because they fail to complete the application or verification process on time.

The extension until October 31 gives eligible students additional time to complete their applications. However, submitting the form is only one part of the process. Students should also make sure that their institute and district-level verification is completed within the revised deadlines.

With the scholarship providing ₹12,000 annually, the assistance can help families meet part of the educational expenses and encourage students to continue their studies through higher classes.

Parents and students who believe they meet the eligibility requirements should therefore check their application status on the National Scholarship Portal and complete the process before the revised deadline.