Scholarship Program for the Year 2025 - Merit-Based Awards Nationwide
=====================================================================================
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to talented but economically disadvantaged students in India. Here's a comprehensive guide to the NMMS scholarship for the 2025-26 session.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the NMMS scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:
- Be Indian nationals
- Be enrolled in Class 9 at a government, government-aided, or local body school
- Have secured at least 60% marks or equivalent grades in Class 8 (55% for SC/ST students)
- Have an annual family income less than ₹3,50,000 from all sources
Students enrolled in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, residential central/state-run schools, or private schools are not eligible.
Application Process
The application process typically opens on June 2, 2025, and closes on August 31, 2025. Candidates apply through the respective state’s SCERT or official education department website, submitting personal and educational details along with necessary documents such as recent passport-size photos, income certificate, caste/disability certificate if applicable, mark sheets, proof of residence, and Aadhaar card. Verification by the institution and educational authorities follows, with deadlines in September.
Selection Exam
The selection involves a written examination comprising two papers: the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), each with 90 multiple-choice questions. Candidates must score a minimum combined percentage (40%, lowered to 32% for SC/ST) to qualify. The exam tests reasoning skills, and scholastic subjects from Classes 7 and 8.
Scholarship Benefits
Successful candidates will receive a scholarship amount of ₹12,000 per year from Class 9 to 12, credited directly to their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). To continue receiving the scholarship up to Class 12, scholars must secure at least 60% marks or equivalent grades in Class 10 and be promoted to the next class on the first attempt in each academic year (5% relaxation for SC/ST students).
Important Dates and Results
The AP NMMS Result 2025 and TS NMMS Result 2025 have already been announced. Similarly, the Rajasthan NMMS Result 2025 and Bihar NMMS Result 2025 are also relevant to this topic.
Exam Details
The NMMS scholarship exam is conducted by the respective State Education Departments or SCERTs. Each test in the NMMS entrance exam is of 90 minutes duration, with extra time provided for students with disabilities as per guidelines. The exam is conducted in offline mode and is a state-level test that students must appear for while studying in Class 8.
No Application Fee
There is no application fee for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship. Students applying for the NMMS scholarship must keep their academic transcripts and marksheets, income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), Aadhaar card, bank details of an Aadhaar-seeded account, and disability certificate (if applicable) ready before registering.
For state-specific details and updates, applicants should refer to their respective state education boards or SCERT websites.
Education and self-development are essential for securing the NMMS scholarship, as students must demonstrate their academic prowess by scoring at least 60% marks or equivalent grades in Class 8 (55% for SC/ST students) and perform well in the learning-based Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) as part of the selection exam. Learning is also crucial in the application process, as students need to gather necessary documents such as mark sheets, income certificate, caste/disability certificate if applicable, and submit them accurately through appropriate channels.
