The Ministry of Education has announced an extension of the deadline for submission of applications under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS). Eligible students can now apply on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) until 30th September 2025.
The portal, which opened on 2nd June 2025, requires selected students to first complete a One-Time Registration (OTR) before applying for the scheme. This extension gives more time to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to secure the scholarship.
The NMMSS, implemented by the Department of School Education & Literacy, aims to prevent school dropouts at the secondary level and encourage students to complete their education up to Class XII.
Scholarships Offered: 1,00,000 fresh scholarships every year.
Eligibility:
For students in Class IX of State Government, Government-aided, or local body schools.
Renewal is provided for Classes X to XII if the student maintains satisfactory academic performance.
Parental income must not exceed ₹3.5 lakh per year.
Minimum 55% marks in Class VII required (5% relaxation for SC/ST students).
Scholarship Amount: ₹12,000 per annum per student.
Disbursement: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through PFMS directly into students' bank accounts.
As of 30th August 2025, a total of:
85,420 fresh applications, and
1,72,027 renewal applications have been submitted through NSP.
Applications go through two levels of verification on NSP:
Level-1 (L1): Institute Nodal Officer (INO) verification - Deadline 15th October 2025
Level-2 (L2): District Nodal Officer (DNO) verification - Deadline 31st October 2025
The NMMSS is a significant initiative to ensure that bright students from low-income families do not discontinue their education due to financial constraints. By supporting their schooling journey from Class IX to Class XII, the scheme plays a crucial role in strengthening the country's human resource base and promoting equity in education.
Students and parents can find more details, including FAQs and application guidelines, at the official portal: https://scholarships.gov.in/studentFAQs.