NMMSS Scholarship 2026 Application Deadline Extended to October 31

The Ministry of Education has extended the application deadline for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) 2026 to October 31. Eligible students can apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in after completing mandatory one-time registration.

Selected candidates will receive ₹12,000 annually, credited directly to their bank accounts via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. Eligibility criteria include parental annual income not exceeding ₹3.50 lakh, minimum 55% marks in Class VII (50% for SC/ST students), and enrollment in state government or government-aided schools.

The scheme aims to reduce student dropout rates after Class VIII and encourage meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds to continue studies at the higher secondary level.