Online Submission for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme Begins

New Delhi: The submission and registration of applications for scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for the project year 2023-24 started on October 1, 2023.

Under the ‘National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme’, implemented by the Ministry of Education, scholarships are awarded to economically disadvantaged students in Classes IX to XII. The objective is to reduce the dropout rates at the eighth-grade level and provide encouragement for these students to continue their education during the secondary stage.

One lakh fresh scholarships are granted annually to selected students from Class IX, with the opportunity for renewal in Classes X to XII for students studying in State Government, Government- aided, and local body schools. The scholarship amount is ₹12000 per year.

The NMMSS is implemented on the NSP, which serves as a comprehensive platform for various scholarship schemes provided to students.

• Under the NMMSS, scholarships are electronically transferred to selected students through the PFMS using the DBT mode, directly into their bank accounts.
• This scheme operates at the central level, providing financial support to deserving students.
• Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than ₹3,50,000 per annum are eligible to avail of the scholarships.
• The students must have a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade in the Class VII examination to appear in the selection test for the award of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students).
• The scholarship applications undergo two levels of verification on the National Scholarship Portal.
• The first is at the Institution/School level by the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) and at second by the District Nodal Officer (DNO).

For the current year, timelines for registration of fresh applications, renewal applications and for level-I and Level-II verification on NSP are as follows: