BUSINESS
Scholarship Deadline Extended: Students Can Now Apply for ₹12,000 Annual Government Scholarship Till September 30
There is important news for students studying in government and government-aided schools. The Ministry of Education has extended the application deadline for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the 2026–27 academic year.
Eligible students can now submit their applications through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) until September 30, 2026.
The scheme is designed to support meritorious students from economically weaker sections and encourage them to continue their education beyond Class VIII.
How Much Scholarship Will Students Get?
Under NMMSS, selected students receive a scholarship of ₹12,000 per year.
The scholarship is awarded to students from Class IX and can continue through Classes X, XI and XII, subject to the required academic conditions.
The government provides one lakh fresh scholarships every year to eligible Class IX students who qualify through the selection examination conducted by their respective State or Union Territory.
Who Can Apply for the Scholarship?
The scheme is intended for students studying in:
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State Government schools
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Government-aided schools
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Local body schools
There are also income and academic eligibility conditions.
The annual parental income should not exceed ₹3.50 lakh. Students generally need at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in Class VII to appear for the scholarship selection test. The minimum marks requirement is relaxed by 5 percentage points for SC and ST students.
What Is the New Application Deadline?
The revised schedule for the 2026–27 scholarship cycle is:
| Particular | Last Date |
|---|---|
| Scholarship application | September 30, 2026 |
| Institute-level verification (L1) | October 15, 2026 |
| District-level verification (L2) | October 31, 2026 |
Students should not wait until the final day because applications also need to go through the required verification process.
How to Apply?
Students selected for the scholarship need to complete the required One-Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal before applying for the scheme.
After registration, students can select NMMSS and submit their scholarship application along with the required information and documents.
Applications are subsequently verified at two levels — first by the Institute Nodal Officer and then by the District Nodal Officer.
How Is the Money Paid?
The scholarship amount is transferred directly to the selected student's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), using the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
This means students do not need to collect the scholarship amount from their school or another office after approval.
Why Is This Scholarship Important?
The NMMSS scheme aims to reduce school dropouts among students from economically weaker families. By providing financial support from Class IX onwards, the programme encourages eligible students to continue their education up to Class XII.
According to the Ministry of Education, more than 79,000 fresh applications and over 1.87 lakh renewal applications had been submitted as of August 31, 2026.
Students and parents who believe they meet the eligibility conditions should check the National Scholarship Portal and complete the application before September 30, 2026.
