Category: Education
The Ministry of Education has extended the last date to apply for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) 2026-27 to 15 November 2026. This is the third extension this academic year.
The extension was announced on 31 October 2026 through a Press Information Bureau release. The earlier deadlines were 31 August, then 30 September, then 31 October.
Revised dates
| Step | Last date |
|---|---|
| Student application on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) | 15 November 2026 |
| Institute Nodal Officer (L1) verification | 30 November 2026 |
| District Nodal Officer (L2) verification | 15 December 2026 |
Students must complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on scholarships.gov.in before applying. Applying is not the last step — an application also has to clear both verification levels by the dates above, so students should follow up with their school after submitting.
About the scholarship
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme, launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Education, pays ₹12,000 a year (₹1,000 a month) to meritorious students from economically weaker sections, to support their schooling from Class 9 to Class 12. One lakh fresh scholarships are awarded every year.
As of 30 October 2026, over 2.9 lakh applications had been submitted on the portal — 90,483 fresh applications and 1,99,531 renewal applications. The portal has been accepting applications since 1 June 2026.
Himachal Pradesh students
In Himachal Pradesh, the state selection exam for NMMS is held by SCERT for Class 8 students. The 2026 exam was held on 1 November 2026, and registration for it had closed on 11 September 2026. Himachal Pradesh has a quota of 832 scholarships under the scheme.
Do not confuse the two steps: the HP selection exam (1 November, already held) is for Class 8 students to qualify for the scholarship. The NSP application (deadline 15 November) is for students who have qualified. If you qualified through the state exam, apply on scholarships.gov.in before 15 November 2026, and make sure your school completes the L1 verification by 30 November.
Source: Ministry of Education via PIB, 31 October 2026 (Release ID 2330936); SCERT Himachal Pradesh.
