The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2024-25 has extended the deadline for application submissions on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) until October 31, 2024. This scheme is specifically designed for students studying in state government, government-aided, and local body schools, providing a scholarship amount of ₹12,000 per annum per student.
Application Process
The NSP portal has been open for submissions since June 30, 2024. To apply for the scholarship, eligible students must first complete a One-Time Registration (OTR) on the NSP. Following registration, they can proceed to apply for the NMMSS. For assistance with the registration process, students can refer to the FAQ section on the NSP website at https://scholarships.gov.in/studentFAQs.
Scheme Objectives and Benefits
The NMMSS, implemented by the Department of School Education & Literacy, aims to support meritorious students from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). The scheme seeks to prevent student dropouts after elementary education (Class VIII) and encourages students to complete their schooling up to the higher secondary level (Class XII). Annually, the NMMSS offers one lakh fresh scholarships for Class IX students who successfully clear the qualifying exam conducted by state or Union Territory governments. Scholarships are renewed for students in classes X to XII based on academic performance.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the scholarship, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Parental income should not exceed ₹3.50 lakh per annum.
- A minimum of 55% marks or an equivalent grade in the Class VII examination is required to sit for the selection test. This percentage is relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students.
Application Status
As of October 15, 2024, a total of 84,606 fresh applications and 158,312 renewal applications have been submitted on the NSP. Scholarships are disbursed directly to students’ bank accounts via electronic transfer through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) following the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
Verification Process
The scholarship application undergoes two levels of verification on the NSP:
- Level-1 (L1) verification is conducted by the Institute Nodal Officer (INO), with a deadline of October 15, 2024.
- Level-2 (L2) verification is performed by the District Nodal Officer (DNO), with the deadline set for November 30, 2024.
Students are encouraged to submit their applications before the extended deadline to avail of this opportunity.
 2024-25 has been extended to October 31, 2024. Students can receive ₹12,000 annually. Apply on the National Scholarship Portal.){kind=link}