Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) is inviting online applications for National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme 2023-24. NMMSS has been launched with an objective to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class Vlll and encourage them to continue the study at secondary stage.
Under this scheme, 100,000 fresh scholarships @ Rs. 12000 per annum are awarded to the meritorious students every year at class IX level, which can be continued upto class Xll. Interested candidates can apply online and fill National Means cum Merit Scholarship Online Application Form at scholarships.gov.in Last Date to apply online is 30 November 2023.
About National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme 2024
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is a central sector scheme launched in May 2008 to provide scholarships for meritorious students of classes 9th to 12th. The scheme is on-boarded on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Objective of National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme
To award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage them to continue their study and complete secondary stage.
Coverage of NMMSS
The National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme envisages award of one lakh fresh scholarships every year to selected students of class 9th and their continuation/renewal in classes 10th to 12th for study in a State Government, Government-aided and Local body schools under the scheme.
Scholarship Amount
An amount of Rs. 12000/- per student per annum. The rate of scholarship has been enhanced from Rs. 6000/- to Rs. 12000/- per year with effect from 1st April 2017.
NMMSS Scholarship Scheme Eligibility & Details
Every candidate must fulfill the following eligibility criteria to become eligible for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme. Here is the complete eligibility criteria to appear in NMMSS selection test:-
- The total family income of all the candidates from all sources must not exceed Rs. 3.5 lakh per annum.
- All the students will get reservation on the basis of State govt. norms.
- Student should be studying as a regular student in government, govt. aided and local body schools. Students of NVS, KVS and residential schools are not entitled for scholarships.
- The awardees should get clear promotion from class 8th to class 9th for being eligible for starting the scholarship.
- The scholarship at the Secondary and Higher Secondary stage or equivalent classes IX to XII is payable for a maximum period of four years for studies in India only.
- No scholarship at this stage is payable for studying diploma./certificate level courses.
- For continuing the scholarship in class X and XII, the awardees should get clear promotion from class IX to class X and from class XI to class XII in the first attempt.
- The awardees must obtain a minimum of 60 per cent marks in Class X examination (relaxable by 5%o for SC/ST students) or equivalent examination for continuation ofthe scholarship at higher secondary stage.
- In case an institution/school does not conduct an examination at the end of class IX and / or class XI, the scholarship for the second year will be continued on the submission of a certificate to this effect from the Head of the Institution/school.
- The scheme will be in operation for another 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 and the selection test for the award of scholarship will be conducted for class 8th students in November every year as a separate test by the State Govemments / Administrations.
- A Technical Support Group (TSG) consisting of Consultants / support staff etc. will be continued for assisting in effective implementation and monitoring of the scheme.
- The scheme will be monitored in the department at regular intervals with the concerned stakeholders.
- System of Super checks/physical verification to be strengthened by ensuring certain minimum percentage of application being physically verified on random basis generated by data analytics.
- The Ministry/Department shall monitor the implementation of the scheme regularly. Adequate vigilance should be exercised to analyze the trends for timely identification and prevention of irregularities.
- State Govemments may be asked to undertake random physical verification/inspection to ensure effective implementation of the scheme, as per guidelines
Selection of Fresh Awardee Students
- NMMSS selection test is conducted at stage of class 8th.
- Each State and UT conducts its own test for selection of students for the award of the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship. Due publicity is given by the State and UT regarding the test. Interested eligible students may contact State Nodal Officer for details.
- A student who fulfills the eligibility criteria must pass both the tests, i.e., Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) under NMMSS with at least 40 % marks in aggregate taken together for these two tests. For the SC/ST students, this cut off is 32% marks.
Selection of Renewal Awardee Students
The awardees should get minimum of minimum of 60% in Class 10th for continuance of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST candidates).
NMMSS Scheme on-boarded on National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
The NMMSS Scheme has been on-boarded on National Scholarship Portal (NSP), which has been developed by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for streamlining and fast tracking the release of Scholarships across Ministries / Departments with efficiency, transparency and reliability.
NMMSS Apply Process under NSP
- To apply for NMMSS, students from different States and UTs, who have qualified in the MAT and SAT under NMMSS must register themselves on NSP.
- The applications are verified online on the portal by the prescribed State authorities.
- The final list of eligible candidates, complete in all respect, is provided to the MHRD by NSP Team for sanction of the scholarship.
- The Ministry of HRD thereafter sanctions funds and releases to State Bank of India (SBI), the implementing bank for the Scheme.
- The SBI disburses the scholarships to students directly by electronic transfer into their bank accounts under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
Now we are describing how to apply online and fill application form for NMMSS Scheme.
National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) Application Form
Below is the complete procedure to apply online for NMMSS Scholarship 2024 for meritorious poor students:-
STEP 1: Visit the official National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in
STEP 2: At the homepage, go the “Fresh Application” tab present under ‘Applicant’s Corner‘ section of the page as shown here:-
STEP 3: In the new window, page to make login for fresh application will open as shown below:-
STEP 4: All the first time users can click at “New Student ? Register Here” link. In the new window, read the guidelines for National Means cum Merit Scholarship scheme will appear as shown below:-
STEP 5: Read all the instructions carefully and click at the “Continue” button at the bottom to open the National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme Registration Form 2024:-
STEP 6: You can register with your aadhar card/EID by entering mobile number and verifying OTP. Even those candidates who don’t have aadhaar / EID can apply for NMMSS registration.
Students of NVS, KVS, Sainik Schools and private schools cannot fill the NMMSS Scholarship Application Form. District Education Officer will forward the list to State Nodal officers who has to verify the beneficiaries and confirm the awardees of scholarship.
NMMS Scholarship Rate & Number of Scholarship
Central govt. offers a total number of 1 lakh scholarships @ 12000 p.a (1000 p.m) to the selected students of Class 9th every year. These scholarships are continued /renewed in Class 10th to Class 12th for study in State govt. / Govt. Aided / Local Body Schools. State Bank of India (SBI) holds the responsibility to disburse this amount directly into the bank account of students through Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
Each State / UT conducts State level Examination for selection of students for the award of the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship. This includes Mental Ability Test (MAT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Candidates must pass MAT & SAT at-least 40% marks. For reserved category, this cut off is 32% marks. Central govt. will provide 100% funds for the scheme.
Note – All the students of Class 9th and 10th needs to apply under Pre-Matric scholarship category while students of class 11th and 12th need to apply under Post-Matric scholarship category. For renewal of Scholarship, click the link – Apply for PMMS Scholarship Renewal
References
— For more details, visit the official website https://scholarships.gov.in/
Also Read – Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities & Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities