National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Selection Process 2026
How Candidates are Selected
Selected based on state-level written merit examination consisting of two papers: Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Candidates must score at least 40% in each test (32% for SC/ST).
Verification Flow
Institute Nodal Officer Verification
Your college/school checks your bonafide status, fees paid, and marks cards against the database.
District Welfare Officer / State Board Sanction
The state/central department approves the budget release for verified records based on category quotas.
Fund Disbursement via DBT
The bank issues direct fund credits to Aadhaar-seeded accounts using treasury payment systems.
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.