New Delhi, October 1: The Union Ministry of Education has extended the last date for submission of applications under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2026-27 to October 31, 2026. The extension will provide eligible students additional time to complete their applications on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and facilitate timely verification by the concerned authorities.
The revised schedule is as follows
| Process | Last Date |
| Submission of Application | October 31, 2026 |
| Institute Nodal Officer (L1) Verification | November 15, 2026 |
| District Nodal Officer (L2) Verification | November 30, 2026 |
The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) has been open for student applications since June 1, 2026. Students are required to complete their One-Time Registration (OTR) on the portal before applying for the Scholarship. As on September 30, 2026, 88,522 fresh and 1,97,133 renewal applications had been submitted.
Students who have already submitted their applications should ensure that the applications are verified by the concerned Institute Nodal Officer (L1) by November 15 and District Nodal Officer (L2) by November 30, 2026.
NMMSS is aimed at supporting meritorious students from economically weaker sections and encouraging them to continue their education beyond Class VIII up to Class XII.
The scheme provides one lakh fresh scholarships every year to eligible Class IX students who qualify in the selection examination conducted by the respective State/UT Governments. The scholarship is subsequently continued from Classes X to XII through renewal, subject to the prescribed academic requirements.
Eligible students studying in state government, government-aided and local body schools, receive ₹12,000 per annum, which is transferred directly to their bank accounts through DBT.
For appearing in the selection test, students must have secured at least 55 per cent marks or equivalent grade in Class VII, with a 5-percentage point relaxation for SC/ST students. The parental income of the applicant should not exceed ₹3.50 lakh per annum.
