NMMSS scholarship deadline pushed to 31 October: ₹12,000 a year for students from Class 9
The Ministry of Education has given students another month to apply for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship on the National Scholarship Portal. Applications now close on 31 October, school verification is due by 15 November and district verification by 30 November.
The Ministry of Education has extended the last date to apply for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for 2026–27 to 31 October 2026. The earlier deadline had already been pushed once, to 30 September. The ministry says the extension gives students more time to finish applications on the National Scholarship Portal and lets officials complete verification on schedule.
The new deadlines
| Step | Last date |
|---|---|
| Student applications (fresh and renewal) on the NSP | 31 October 2026 |
| Verification by the Institute Nodal Officer (L1) | 15 November 2026 |
| Verification by the District Nodal Officer (L2) | 30 November 2026 |
By 30 September, about 88,522 fresh and 1,97,133 renewal applications had been submitted, according to the ministry.
Who it is for
- Students selected through the NMMSS test held by their state or Union Territory, who are now in Class 9 (fresh) or Classes 10 to 12 (renewal).
- Students in state government, government-aided and local body schools.
- To sit the selection test, a student needs at least 55% in Class 7 (50% for SC and ST students), and family income must not exceed ₹3.5 lakh a year.
What it pays
₹12,000 a year, paid directly into the student's bank account. The scheme funds one lakh new scholarships each year and continues them up to Class 12 if renewal conditions are met.
Before you apply
- Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) on the NSP first; the application cannot start without it.
- Already applied? Ask your school's nodal officer to verify it before 15 November. An unverified application does not reach the district, and the scholarship cannot be paid.
- Check that the bank details on the application are correct; the money is paid by direct benefit transfer.
CareerBox News Desk — reporting on the Ministry of Education’s announcement of 1 October 2026 extending NMMSS applications for 2026–27. Official portal: scholarships.gov.in. Dates and eligibility change; confirm them on the official portal before you act.