Government approves the continuation of National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) for a period of five years

What is the News?

The government has approved the continuation of the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) for a period of five years i.e. from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

What is the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme(NMMSS)?

Nodal Ministry: Launched in 2008-09 by Ministry of Education

Type: Central Sector Scheme

Aim: To award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to deter them from dropping out at class VIII and encourage them to continue their education at the secondary stage.

Intended Beneficiaries: The scheme envisages the award of one lakh fresh scholarships every year to selected students of class IX and their continuation/renewal in classes X to XII for study in a State Government, Government-aided and Local body schools.

Scholarship Amount: An amount of Rs. 12000 (Rs.1000/- per month) per student per annum. 

Selection of Students: Students are selected for award of scholarships through an examination conducted by the State/ UT Governments. Scholarships are disbursed directly into the bank accounts of students by electronic transfer through Public Financial Management System(PFMS) following DBT mode.

Eligibility criteria to appear in selection test:

– Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs.3.5 lakh per annum are eligible to avail of the scholarships.

– The student must have a minimum of 55 % marks or equivalent grade in the Class VII examination for appearing in the selection test for award of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC and ST students).

– The student should be studying as a regular student in Government, Government-aided and local body schools. Students of NVS, KVS and residential schools are not entitled to the scholarships.

Source:  This post is based on the article “Government approves the continuation of National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) for a period of five years” published in PIB on 23rd February 2022.