National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS, Class 8→9–12)

Cash stipendCentral (NSP)

₹12,000/year for 4 years for bright Class-8 students of govt/aided schools. Exam compulsory.

Last verified: 2026-10-03 · Yearly renewal required · Applies in: Punjab (state domicile usually required; central schemes apply across states)

Amount you get
₹12,000/year (₹1,000/month) for 4 years, Classes 9–12
Marks needed
≥55% in Class 7 (50% for SC/ST/PwD) + clear state NMMS exam (MAT+SAT); continue with 55% in 9th, 60% in 10th
Income limit
Family income ≤ ₹3.5 lakh/year (revised upward from ₹1.5L)
Who can apply
General / EWS / OBC / SC / ST / Minority / PwD · Any

How to apply

Appear in state NMMS exam in Class 8 (Nov–Jan). Selection via quota per state/district. Scholarship paid via DBT after Class 9 admission.

Deadline: Exam applications Aug–Oct; exam Nov–Jan (state-wise)

Wait after verification: Starts in Class 9; quarterly/annual DBT subject to marks + attendance

Documents you need

  • • Class 7 marksheet
  • • Income certificate
  • • Caste certificate if applicable
  • • Bonafide certificate
  • • Aadhaar-seeded bank account

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Why your scholarship money might not arrive (DBT/Aadhaar explainer)

Almost every scholarship is paid via DBT/PFMS straight to the student's bank account — not in cash, not to the school. The #1 reason money gets stuck is the bank account not being Aadhaar-seeded/NPCI-mapped. Check with your bank: 'Is my account DBT-enabled?'

Name mismatch is the #2 reason: the name on Aadhaar, bank account and application must match letter-by-letter. A single spelling difference (Kumar vs Kumaar) can hold payment for months.

Track on PFMS Know Your Payments or the NSP payment board.

Quick answers

Can I hold two scholarships together?

It depends on the schemes. From AY 2026–27, NSP allows one merit-based scholarship plus one or more welfare-based schemes (subject to each scheme's rules). Some schemes forbid combining benefits — always check the specific scheme conditions. (INSPIRE explicitly requires surrendering the other.)

Do I need to reapply every year?

Yes — this scheme needs yearly renewal with passing marks + attendance.

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Source: NSP + state SCERT (https://scholarships.gov.in) · Last verified: 2026-10-03. Amounts and dates change yearly — confirm on the official portal.

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