New Delhi, Sep 2 (INB) For the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) 2026-27 deadline is extended to September 30, 2026, according to an official statement.
The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) has been accepting applications under the scheme since June 1, 2026. Students selected for the scholarship are required to complete one-time registration (OTR) on the portal before applying for the scheme.
The deadline for Institute Nodal Officer (INO) verification at Level 1 is October 15, while District Nodal Officer (DNO) verification at Level 2 will remain open until October 31, 2026,
The NMMSS, implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy, aims to prevent students from economically weaker sections from dropping out after Class VIII and encourage them to continue their education up to Class XII, it stated. Under the scheme, one lakh fresh scholarships are awarded every year to eligible Class IX students who qualify in the selection examination conducted by their respective state or Union Territory governments. The scholarship continues through renewal from Classes X to XII, subject to academic performance. The scholarship provides Rs 12,000 annually per student and is available only to students studying in State Government, Government-aided and local body schools. As per the ministry, eligibility includes parental income of not more than Rs 3.50 lakh per annum and at least 55 per cent marks or equivalent grade in Class VII, with a five-percentage-point relaxation for SC/ST students. Scholarship payments are transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode using the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), it added. As of August 31, 2026, a total of 79,398 fresh and 1,87,208 renewal applications had been submitted, the ministry said. The ministry advised eligible students to complete their applications within the extended deadline and asked those who have already applied to ensure that their applications are duly verified by the concerned nodal officers.
