The last date for submission of applications by selected meritorious students under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for 2024-25 has been extended to 15th October 2024, providing additional time for eligible candidates to apply. The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) has been accepting applications since 30th June 2024.
In this academic year, selected students must complete a one-time registration (OTR) on the NSP, followed by applying for their chosen scholarship scheme. Comprehensive FAQs for registration are available on the NSP portal for guidance at scholarships.gov.in/studentFAQs.
Scheme Highlights:
The NMMSS, implemented by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, aims to support meritorious students from economically weaker sections to continue their education beyond Class VIII, preventing dropouts and encouraging completion up to Class XII.
- Each year, one lakh scholarships are awarded to Class IX students who pass the qualifying exams conducted by State/UT governments. The scholarships are renewable through Classes X to XII based on academic performance.
- The scheme is only available to students in State Government, Government-aided, and local body schools.
- The scholarship provides ₹12,000 per annum per student and is disbursed directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) using the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
Application Status & Eligibility:
As of 1st October 2024, 81,443 fresh applications and 1,52,617 renewal applications have been successfully submitted. Students from families with a parental income not exceeding ₹3.5 lakh per annum are eligible, and applicants must have secured a minimum of 55% marks in their Class VII exams, with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST students.
Verification Process:
There are two levels of verification for scholarship applications:
- Level-1 (L1) verification by the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) must be completed by 31st October 2024.
- Level-2 (L2) verification by the District Nodal Officer (DNO) must be finalized by 15th November 2024.a
