National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Last Date & Deadlines 2026
Application Deadline
30 November 2026
Exam usually held in November, applications open in September
Timeline Details & Extensions
Applications must be submitted and finalized before 11:59 PM on the closing date. We advise students to submit applications at least a week in advance to avoid last-minute server bottlenecks.
- Institute-level verification continues for 15-30 days after the student application deadline.
- Incomplete or unfinalized drafts are auto-rejected on the last date.
FAQs for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS)
Q.What is the examination pattern for the NMMS scholarship?
The state-level selection exam consists of two papers: the Mental Ability Test (MAT) with 90 multiple-choice questions, and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) with 90 multiple-choice questions covering sciences, social studies, and mathematics taught in classes 7 and 8.
Q.What are the qualifying marks for the NMMS selection exam?
To qualify, general category students must score a minimum of 40% marks in aggregate (MAT and SAT combined), while students from SC and ST categories require at least 32% marks.
Q.Are private school students eligible for the NMMS scholarship?
No. The scholarship is restricted to meritorious students studying in government, government-aided, or local body schools in India. Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools, and private schools are not eligible.
Q.How is the scholarship amount disbursed to selected students?
The scholarship amount of ₹12,000 per annum is directly credited into the student's Aadhaar-seeded bank account through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) installments.