Central Government SchemeVerified for 2026

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Income Limit 2026

Maximum Annual Family Income

₹3,50,000 per annum

Income Verification Rules

Applicants must submit a valid annual income certificate issued by a competent revenue officer (such as a Tahsildar, Revenue Inspector, or Sub-Divisional Magistrate).

  • The certificate must be in the name of the parent/legal guardian.
  • Income certificates issued by private employers or self-declarations on plain paper are not accepted.

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.