NMMS Scholarship 2025 offers INR 12,000 to students of classes 9–12 from economically weaker sections in government or aided schools. Candidates must qualify for a state-level exam and meet academic and income requirements to get financial assistance.
NMMS Scholarship 2025 is a hallmark centrally sponsored scheme initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), now under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The intention behind this scheme was to prevent meritorious students from economically weaker sections from dropping out after Class 8 and provide financial support to them throughout their secondary and higher secondary education.
The NMMS Scholarship Scheme has been instituted for the benefit of students studying in government/local bodies/government-aided schools where academic performance has exceeded and the parental income does not surpass INR 3,50,000 per annum.
Nearly one lakh scholarships are bestowed every year under this scheme, each being an amount valued at INR 12,000 per annum, credited directly into the student's bank account using the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). Merit-listed students will have to qualify for a merit examination conducted by the state-level board. These comprise the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
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If you intend to apply for the National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) 2025, you should be aware of the important dates related to the application process, examination, and result announcement. Below is a tentative calendar of important dates for the 2025 session.
Events | Tentative Dates |
---|---|
Official Notification | August–September 2025 |
Online Application | September 2025 |
Last Date to Apply | October–November 2025 |
Release of Admit Card | November–December 2025 |
NMMS Scholarship Exam | December 2025-January 2026 |
Declaration of Results | April–May 2026 |
Scholarship Disbursement Begins | June–July 2026 |
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The following table covers important details of the NMMS Scholarship 2025, such as eligibility, application process, scholarship amount, selection criteria, and more.
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Scholarship Name | NMMS Scholarship |
Full Form | National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship |
Launched By | Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India |
Implemented By | Department of School Education and Literacy |
Year of Launch | 2008 |
Objective | To reduce dropout rates by providing financial assistance to meritorious students from economically weaker sections |
Beneficiaries | Indian students studying in classes 9 to 12 |
Annual Scholarship Amount | INR 12,000 per annum |
Total Number of Scholarships | Approximately 1,00,000 per year |
Scholarship Duration | 4 years (Class 9 to Class 12, subject to renewal conditions) |
Application Period | August to November (varies by state) |
Application Mode | Online (via NSP Portal) and Offline (through schools) |
Eligibility Criteria |
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Selection Criteria | Merit in NMMS Examination (MAT and SAT) |
Exam Pattern |
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The purpose of the National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Scheme is to serve as an incentive for economically weaker students to complete Class 8, thereby minimising dropout rates among meritorious students after Class 8. The scheme is implemented under central assistance and provides financial help to bright students attending government and government-aided schools in the country.
By awarding an annual scholarship amount of INR 12,000, the NMMS scheme seeks to ease the financial burden on families, thus empowering students to focus on their academics without worrying about educational expenses. Another prime goal of the NMMS Scholarship is to foster equality of access to education and urge academic excellence for underprivileged students.
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It is important to understand the eligibility criteria before applying for the NMMS Scholarship 2025. The scheme aims to assist students belonging to economically weaker sections who show academic merit. The following is a detailed analysis of the eligibility criteria to assist students in determining whether they are eligible for the scholarship.
Criteria | Details |
---|---|
Class Level for Application | Must be a regular student in Class 9 and have been promoted from Class 8 with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST students). |
Income Limit | The annual family income should not exceed INR 3,50,000. |
School Type | Must be studying in a government, government-aided, or local body school. |
Ineligible Institutions | Students studying in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS), Sainik Schools, private schools, or state-run residential/boarding schools are not eligible. |
Study Location | The scheme is valid only for students studying in India. No scholarship is allowed for studies abroad. |
Mode of Study | Must pursue approved courses on a full-time basis as a regular student. |
Conduct and Attendance | Must maintain good conduct, not remain absent without leave, and continue as a regular student. |
Selection Test | Students must appear and qualify in the NMMS selection test conducted by state/U1 authorities, usually held in November each year. |
Continuation Criteria (Class 10) | Must be promoted to Class 10 and score at least 55% in Class 9 (50% for SC/ST students). |
Continuation Criteria (Class 11) | Must obtain a minimum of 60% in Class 10 (55% for SC/ST) and be promoted on the first attempt. |
Continuation Criteria (Class 12) | Must secure at least 55% in Class 11 and be promoted in the first attempt. |
School Exam Waiver | If Class 9 or 11 exams are not held, a head of institution certificate is necessary for continuation. |
Medical Exemption | In case of inability to appear for the exam due to serious illness, a registered medical certificate (within 3 months) and a performance report by the principal must be produced to continue. |
Joining Deadline | Have to report for the next class/course within 3 months of the previous result announcement. |
Scholarship Duration | Salary will be released for a maximum of 4 years for classes 9 to 12. |
Ineligible Courses | Not for diploma or certificate courses. |
Discontinuation Clause | In case of a gap of one year of studies, the scholarship will be treated as discontinued and will not be restored. |
No Arrears Policy | No requests for arrears of scholarship will be accepted after 12 months of the academic year. |
Monitoring & Compliance | Subject to periodic audits, physical verification, and technical examinations by the authorities to check for irregularities. |
The application process for the NMMS Scholarship requires different documents to be submitted for evaluation of scholarship criteria. So, students need to scan and keep the relevant documents before starting to fill out the application form. Check out some of the important documents required below:
Students will also be required to sit with certain documents during this scholarship exam, such as:
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Applying for the National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) is a straightforward process, available both online and offline. However, most students prefer the online method due to its ease and efficiency. Below is a step-by-step guide that explains how to apply for the NMMS Scholarship with all the necessary details:
Follow these steps to apply for the NMMS Scholarship through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP):
In offline application cases, follow the further procedure:
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The NMMS Scholarship is implemented keeping in mind various aspects to impart education to talented students. This scholarship also has multiple benefits for students who are not financially stable to continue their studies. Check out some of the significant benefits below:
If students face any issues while filling out the NMMS Scholarship form or have any queries related to this scholarship, then they can contact the officials.
Helpline Number: 0120-6619540.
Official Email ID: helpdesk@nsp.gov.in
The NMMS Scholarship amount is INR 12,000 per year. Students receive an INR 1,000 scholarship amount every month in their bank account through the public financial management system. Every year approximately one lakh scholarships are offered to deserving students.
Yes, students can apply for an NMMS Scholarship online through the official website of the National Scholarship Portal. The official site is scholarships.gov.in. Students need to complete the registration process and submit the documents after filling in all the required information before the designated last date.
Students are selected for the NMMS Scholarship based on their academic performance and scholarship test results. This scholarship test includes a mental ability test and a scholastic aptitude test. After evaluating scores in previous classes and the results of the scholarship test, students are offered scholarships.
The full form of the NMMS Scholarship 2025 is National Means Cum Merit Scholarship. This scholarship is under the scheme of the central sector to provide education to the weaker sections of the society in India.
Students have to submit an income certificate of their parents which should not be more than INR 3,50,000 annually. This income includes the total family income per year.
Students who have passed their class 8 with a minimum of 55% (for general categories) and 50% (for reserved categories) and are currently studying in class 9th are eligible for the NMMS Scholarship award.
No, a Sainik School student cannot apply for the NMMS Scholarship as the students from KVS, NVS or any other private schools are not eligible. This scholarship is only for candidates who study in a government school or government-led school.
The NMMS Scholarship is for four years of duration. However, the continuation of this scholarship depends on the student's performance in the merit. A student starts getting this scholarship in class 9 based on class 8 results then it continues till class 12.
There will be no negative marking for the NMMS Scholarship test. This test will be held for 90 minutes and only students with a disability will be given relaxation with the duration.
The NMMS Scholarship result can be checked both in online and offline modes. The results will be announced by the state examination boards individually after evaluating the scores of the scholarship test.