
The Ministry of Education has extended the deadline for online applications under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2026-27 to 31 October 2026. The extension aims to give eligible students more time to apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), with the one-time registration step required before submission.

As of 30 September 2026, 88,522 fresh and 1,97,133 renewal applications had been submitted. The scheme provides one lakh fresh scholarships annually to eligible Class 9 students in state government, government-aided, and local body schools, with Rs 12,000 per annum transferred directly to beneficiaries through DBT.
Applicants must have scored at least 55% in Class 7 (5% relaxation for SC/ST students), and parental income must not exceed Rs 3.50 lakh per annum. The Institute Nodal Officer verification is set for 15 November 2026, followed by District Nodal Officer verification on 30 November 2026.
The extension, coming just before the original deadline, gives tens of thousands of potential applicants a final window to apply. With 1.97 lakh renewal applications already submitted, the scheme’s continuity for existing beneficiaries appears on track. What remains unresolved is whether the additional month will substantially boost fresh applications, which currently stand at under 89,000 against a target of one lakh. The verification schedule, L1 by 15 November and L2 by 30 November, will determine how quickly disbursals reach students in the current fiscal year.
Source: timesnownews.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.