# NMMS applications hit 1.74 lakh in UP, highest in three years 2026-10-08T06:12:59+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A record 1,74,662 students in Uttar Pradesh applied for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) examination in 2026, the highest in three years. Applications rose from 1,57,013 in 2024 and 1,57,381 in 2025, said secondary education department officials. Aligarh topped with 9,402 applications, followed by Kaushambi and Prayagraj. Shamli recorded the lowest at 620. The scheme, launched by the Centre in 2008, offers successful candidates Rs 1,000 a month from Classes 9 to 12 to reduce dropouts after Class 8. The state has a quota of 15,143 scholarships, with 218 seats unfilled last cycle. The examination is scheduled for 1 November. Eligibility required a minimum 55% in Class 7 for the 2025-26 academic year, with a five-percentage-point relaxation for SC/ST students. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The surge in NMMS applications reveals that financial incentive programmes can drive participation even when total scholarship seats are capped at 15,143, leaving nearly 1.6 lakh applicants competing for roughly one in ten slots. The sharp district-level variation, with Aligarh sending 9,402 applications while Shamli sent only 620, suggests uneven awareness or access to application centres in smaller districts like Shravasti and Balrampur. With 218 seats unfilled last cycle, the state may need to revisit its selection or outreach process. The examination on 1 November will test whether the increased interest translates into higher fill rates for the quota. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Leads with record figures and official data, no slant This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Aligarh, NMMS, Prayagraj, Tanuja Tripathi, Uttar Pradesh Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/nmms-applications-hit-1-74-lakh-in-up-highest-in-three-years/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nmms-applications-hit-1-74-lakh-in-up-highest-in-three-years/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/