Extended Deadline for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Applications

The Ministry of Education has extended the application deadline for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) to November 15, 2026. This extension allows students who missed the original deadline to apply through the National Scholarship Portal. The revised schedule includes important verification dates and eligibility criteria, ensuring that meritorious students from economically weaker sections can continue their education uninterrupted. With 100,000 scholarships available annually, this scheme aims to support students from class 9 to class 12. For more details on the application process and requirements, read the full article.

By Ambika Singh Nov 3, 2026, 12:27 IST

Application Deadline Extended

The Ministry of Education has announced an extension for the application deadline of the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2026-27, now set for November 15. Students who missed the initial deadline are encouraged to complete their applications via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) before this new date.

Revised Schedule Released

Along with the deadline extension, the Union Ministry of Education has provided a revised timeline for the application process. The updated schedule is outlined in the table below:

Event | Date

Last date for application submission | November 15, 2026

Verification by Institute Nodal Officer (L1) | November 30, 2026

Verification by District Nodal Officer (L2) | December 15, 2026

Application Process Overview

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) has been accepting applications since June 1, 2026. Students must complete a One-Time Registration (OTR) on the portal before applying for the scholarship. As of October 30, 2026, there have been 90,483 new applications and 199,531 renewal applications submitted.

Students who have already applied should ensure that their applications are verified by the Institute Nodal Officer (L1) by November 30, and by the District Nodal Officer (L2) by December 15, 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the NMMSS scholarship, students must achieve a minimum of 55% marks (or an equivalent grade) in Class 7. A relaxation of 5% in marks is available for students from SC/ST categories. Additionally, the annual income of the student's parents should not exceed ₹3.50 lakh.

About the Scholarship Scheme

The NMMSS aims to assist meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, allowing them to pursue their education from class 9 to class 12 after completing class 8 without interruptions.

The scheme provides 100,000 new scholarships each year to eligible students in class 9, who must pass an examination conducted by their respective state or union territory governments. Scholarships can be renewed based on academic performance, with successful candidates receiving ₹12,000 annually.