Ministry of Education extends deadline for NMMS scholarship applications to September 30

The Ministry of Education has provided significant relief to meritorious students applying for the NMMS 2026-27 scholarship. The ministry has extended the deadline for submitting applications to September 30, 2026. This scheme encourages students from economically weaker sections to complete their education up to the higher secondary level.

Under this scheme, one lakh new scholarships are awarded annually to students in class nine. Selected students receive financial assistance of 12,000 rupees per year through renewals until class twelve. The scheme is exclusively available to students studying in government, government-aided, and local body schools.

Providing details on the application process, the ministry stated that it is mandatory for students to complete a One-Time Registration (OTR) on the NSP portal. As of August 31, 2026, approximately 79,398 new applications and 1,87,208 renewal applications have been received.

Deadlines have also been set for the verification process. The last date for verification by the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) is October 15, 2026, while verification by the District Nodal Officer (DNO) must be completed by October 31, 2026.

To be eligible, the annual income of the student's parents must not exceed 3.50 lakh rupees. Additionally, a minimum of 55% marks in class seven is required to appear for the selection examination, with a 5% relaxation provided for SC/ST students.

The scholarship amount is transferred directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) using the DBT mode. The ministry has advised all eligible students to complete their applications before the deadline.

Students must also ensure that their applications are duly verified by the respective authorities. This scheme serves as a crucial step in preventing students from dropping out of school after the primary level.