National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme
₹12,000/year (₹1,000/month) scholarship · meritorious Class IX-XII students
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) awards ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000/month) to meritorious students from economically weaker families to help them continue studying beyond Class 8 without dropping out. Students must pass a state-level selection test at Class 8, and the scholarship continues through Class 12 if academic performance is maintained. Apply through the National Scholarships Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
About This Scheme
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) awards ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000/month) to meritorious students from economically weaker families to help them continue studying beyond Class 8 without dropping out. Students must pass a state-level selection test at Class 8, and the scholarship continues through Class 12 if academic performance is maintained. Apply through the National Scholarships Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
Full official description
The “National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme” is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2008 by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India. The objective of the scheme is to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage them to continue their education at secondary stage.
Under this scheme, it is proposed to award 1,00,000 scholarships to the gifted or meritorious students whose parental income is not more than ₹3,50,000/- per annum from all sources at the time of selection of awardees for scholarship. Each State/UT has fixed quota of scholarship for concerned age group of class VII and VIII. The scheme will provide reservation to different categories of students as per the State/UT norms; as different States/UTs have their own norms of reservation.
This scholarship will be provided on yearly basis to the students studying as regular students and entering in class IX in a Government, Government-aided, local body schools. Thus, the scholarship will be for a maximum period of four years.
The scheme has been approved for continuation for another 5 years during the period of 15th Finance Commission cycle from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Benefits
- ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000 per month) for up to 4 years (Classes 9 to 12)
- 1,00,000 scholarships awarded nationwide each year
- Money transferred directly to student's bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- Preference given to SBI or any public sector bank with core banking
- Reservation applicable as per State/UT government norms
💡 Why Startups Should Care
Not directly startup-relevant — this is a merit scholarship for school students from economically weaker families.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must be studying as a regular student in a government, government-aided, or local body school
- Must have scored at least 55% in Class 7 (5% relaxation for SC/ST students)
- Annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹3,50,000
- Must qualify the state-level selection test (MAT + SAT) at Class 8 level with at least 40% combined marks (32% for SC/ST)
- Students in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, residential schools, and private schools are NOT eligible
- Only one Central Government scholarship can be availed at a time
- For renewal: must pass Class 10 with at least 60% (55% for SC/ST) and get clear promotion from Class 9 to 10
Exclusions
- Not available to: The students studying in "Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas" are not entitled to get scholarships under this scheme.
- Not available to: Those students studying in Residential Schools run by the Centre/ State Government Institutions, where facilities like boarding, lodging, and education are provided and students studying in private schools are also not eligible for the scholarship under the scheme.
- No scholarship shall be available for studies abroad for any course.
- No scholarship at this stage is payable for studying diploma/certificate level courses.
How to Apply
New Registration: Visit the Registration . Fill in the details and click “Register”. Your Application ID and password will be displayed. The same will also be sent as an SMS to your registered mobile number. > Fresh Application: (Visit scholarships.gov.in)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the objective of the scheme?
The primary objective is to support talented students from low-income families so that financial constraints do not force them to discontinue education after Class VIII.
How many scholarships are awarded under scheme each year?
Approximately 1 lakh fresh scholarships are awarded every year to selected students of Class IX.
What is the scholarship amount under scheme?
Each selected student receives ₹12,000 per annum (₹1,000 per month).
Who is eligible to apply for the scholarship?
Students whose parental income from all sources does not exceed ₹3.50 lakh per annum are eligible, subject to fulfillment of other conditions.
What is the minimum academic requirement for eligibility?
Students must have scored at least 55% marks in Class VII (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students) to appear in the selection test.
Which students are eligible in terms of school type?
Students studying as regular students in Government, Government-aided, and Local Body schools are eligible.
Are students from Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas eligible?
No. Students studying in KVS, NVS, and residential schools are not eligible under scheme.
Is reservation applicable under the scheme?
Yes, reservation is applicable as per State Government norms.
At which stage is the selection test conducted?
The selection test is conducted at the Class VIII stage.
What are the components of the scheme selection test?
The test consists of two parts:
- Mental Ability Test (MAT)
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
What are the qualifying marks in the selection test?
Students must score at least 40% marks in aggregate in MAT and SAT.
For SC/ST students, the qualifying mark is 32%.
When does a student start receiving the scholarship?
Selected students start receiving the scholarship from Class IX.
Can the scholarship be renewed in higher classes?
Yes, the scholarship is renewable in Classes X, XI, and XII, subject to fulfillment of renewal conditions.
Is renewal allowed if a student fails or repeats a class?
No. The scholarship is continued only if the student is promoted in the first attempt.
How is the scholarship disbursed to students?
The scholarship amount is transferred directly into the student’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Aadhaar Card
- Educational Certificates/ marksheet
- Caste Certificate
- Income Certificate of Parents
- Disability Certificate, if applicable
- Domicile Certificate
- Any other supporting documents as required