NMMS scholarship deadline extended to 15 November; students get ₹12,000 a year from Class 9 to 12

Students who qualified for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship but have not yet applied have two more weeks. The Union Ministry of Education said on Saturday evening that the last date to submit applications for 2026-27 has been extended to 15 November 2026.

The extension applies to both new applicants and students renewing their scholarship on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

The new dates

Student application: by 15 November 2026
Verification by the school's Institute Nodal Officer (Level 1): by 30 November 2026
Verification by the District Nodal Officer (Level 2): by 15 December 2026

The ministry said students who have already applied should make sure their applications clear both levels of verification by these dates. An application that is submitted but not verified does not move forward, so it is worth checking the status on the portal and reminding the school if it is still pending.

How many have applied

The portal has been open since 1 June 2026. As of 30 October, 90,483 fresh applications and 1,99,531 renewal applications had been submitted, the ministry said. By our calculation, that is 2,90,014 in all.

The scheme offers one lakh new scholarships every year, so the number of fresh applications was still below the number of awards on offer when the extension was announced.

What the scholarship gives

The NMMS scheme is meant to help bright students from poorer families stay in school after Class 8, the point at which many drop out.

Amount: ₹12,000 a year, which works out to ₹1,000 a month.
Duration: It starts in Class 9 and can be renewed each year until Class 12, subject to academic conditions. By our calculation, a student who keeps it for all four years receives ₹48,000.
Payment: The money goes straight to the student's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer.

Who is eligible

School: The student must be studying in a state government school, a government-aided school, or a school run by a local body. Students of private unaided schools are not covered.
Selection test: Scholarships are given to Class 9 students who pass a selection examination conducted by their State or Union Territory government.
Marks to sit the test: At least 55% or an equivalent grade in Class 7. SC and ST students get a 5 percentage point relaxation, so they need 50%.
Family income: Parental income must not exceed ₹3.5 lakh a year.

How to apply on the portal

Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal. The ministry says this must be done before applying.
Log in and fill in the NMMS application, or the renewal form if you received the scholarship last year.
Submit before 15 November and keep a copy of the application.
Follow up with your school to make sure it verifies the application by 30 November.

Students should also make sure the bank account given in the form is active and in their own name, so the payment does not bounce.

Why renewals matter

Renewal applications outnumber fresh ones by more than two to one. That makes sense: a student selected in Class 9 has to reapply every year to keep the money flowing through Class 12. Missing the renewal window can mean losing a year's scholarship, even for a student who meets every condition.