🎓 Scholarship Exam — Class 8NMMS — National Means-cum-Merit
NMMS — National Means-cum-Merit
Scholarship Exam 2026-27
₹12,000/year scholarship for meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds. 1 lakh scholarships awarded annually across India.
🏆1 LakhScholarships/Year
💰₹12,000Per Year
📝180 QsTotal Questions
🚫NoneNeg. Marking
🎯40%Min. Qualifying
About NMMS
Everything you need to know about the scholarship
| Full Name | National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship |
| Conducted By | State SCERTs / Ministry of Education, Govt. of India |
| Target Students | Class 8 (studying in Govt / Govt-aided schools) |
| Scholarship Amount | ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000/month) for Class 9 to Class 12 |
| Total Scholarships | 1,00,000 scholarships awarded annually across India |
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR-based MCQ) |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year — state-wise (typically November–February) |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Min. Qualifying Score | 40% in MAT and 40% in SAT separately (35% for SC/ST) |
| Official Site | scholarships.gov.in |
Important Dates — NMMS 2026-27
Tentative schedule for next cycle — check your state SCERT for exact dates
📅 NMMS 2026-27 — Tentative ScheduleState-wise — dates vary
| Event | Details | Tentative Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Form Opens | State-wise — check your state SCERT website | August–September 2026 | Upcoming |
| Last Date to Apply | Submit via school principal | September–October 2026 | Upcoming |
| Admit Card Release | Download from state SCERT portal | October–November 2026 | Upcoming |
| NMMS Exam Date | State-wise — typically 2nd/3rd Sunday | November 2026 – February 2027 | Upcoming |
| Answer Key Release | Published on state SCERT website | Within 1 week of exam | Upcoming |
| Result Declaration | State-wise merit list published | February–April 2027 | Upcoming |
| Scholarship Disbursement | Via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) | From Class 9 onwards | Upcoming |
⚠️ Dates are state-specific. Always check your state's official SCERT website for confirmed dates.
State-wise Exam Dates (Reference — Previous Cycle)
Uttar Pradesh
November 9, 2025 (conducted)
Delhi
December 7, 2025 (conducted)
Tamil Nadu
January 10, 2026 (conducted)
Madhya Pradesh
November 2026 (next cycle)
Maharashtra
November 2026 (next cycle)
Rajasthan
November–December 2026 (next cycle)
Bihar
November–December 2026 (next cycle)
Karnataka
November–December 2026 (next cycle)
Eligibility Criteria
Who can apply for NMMS 2026
| Class | Currently studying in Class 8 |
| School Type | Government, Government-aided, or Local body schools only |
| Previous Marks | Minimum 55% in Class 7 (50% for SC/ST) |
| Family Income | Annual family income must not exceed ₹3,50,000 |
| Nationality | Indian nationals only |
| NOT Eligible | Students in KVS, NVS, Sainik Schools, fully residential Govt schools |
| Gender | Boys and Girls both eligible |
| State | Must appear in the state where the school is located |
Exam Pattern — MAT & SAT
Two papers — both must be cleared separately
MAT — Mental Ability Test
90Questions
90Marks
90 minutesDuration
Tests reasoning, logical thinking, and pattern recognition. No language or academic knowledge required.
SAT — Scholastic Aptitude Test
90Questions
90Marks
90 minutesDuration
Science (35 Qs) + Social Science (35 Qs) + Mathematics (20 Qs). Based on Class 7 & 8 NCERT syllabus.
⚠️ Key Points
• Minimum 40% in both MAT and SAT separately (35% for SC/ST).
• No negative marking — attempt all questions.
• Stage I score does NOT carry forward — it only qualifies you for the scholarship.
• Scholarship is awarded on Stage I (state level) merit only.
Syllabus — MAT (Mental Ability Test)
90 questions · 90 marks · Based on reasoning ability — no academic knowledge needed
Analogy
Word, number, and figure analogies — identify the relationship and find the missing pair
Classification (Odd One Out)
Group objects/words by common property and identify the one that doesn't belong
Numerical Series
Find the next number in a sequence — arithmetic, geometric, and mixed patterns
Pattern Perception
Identify and complete visual patterns — similar to Navodaya MAT section
Hidden Figures
Identify a simple figure hidden within a complex figure
Coding & Decoding
Decode word or number codes based on given pattern
Problem Solving
Logical reasoning puzzles — blood relations, direction sense, ranking
Perceptual Ability
Mirror images, water images, paper folding, paper cutting
Spatial Reasoning
Mental rotation of figures, cube-based problems
Letter Series
Find the next letter or missing letter in alphabetical pattern sequences
Venn Diagrams
Identify relationships between groups using Venn diagrams
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Figure matrices, figure series completion — without any language dependency
Syllabus — SAT: Science
35 questions · Based on Class 6, 7 & 8 NCERT Science
Food — Where Does It Come From?
Plant parts, animal products, food components
Components of Food
Nutrients, deficiency diseases, balanced diet
Fibre to Fabric
Natural and synthetic fibres, their properties
Sorting Materials into Groups
Properties of materials: hardness, solubility, transparency
Separation of Substances
Methods: filtration, evaporation, distillation, magnetic separation
Changes Around Us
Reversible vs irreversible changes, physical and chemical changes
Living Organisms and Their Surroundings
Adaptation, habitat — aquatic, terrestrial, aerial
Motion and Measurement of Distances
Types of motion, units of measurement, standard units
Light, Shadows and Reflections
Transparent/opaque objects, shadows, reflection basics
Electricity and Circuits
Electric circuit, conductors and insulators, switches
Heat
Temperature, thermometer, conduction, convection, radiation
Acids, Bases and Salts
Properties of acids and bases, indicators, neutralisation
Physical and Chemical Changes
Rusting, burning, crystallisation — differences
Weather, Climate and Adaptations
Climate zones, animal adaptations to climate
Winds, Storms and Cyclones
Air pressure, cyclones, tornado, lightning
Soil
Soil types, soil profile, erosion, importance of soil
Respiration in Organisms
Types of respiration, breathing mechanism, aerobic vs anaerobic
Transportation in Animals and Plants
Blood, heart, transpiration, xylem and phloem
Reproduction in Plants
Vegetative, sexual and asexual reproduction in plants
Motion and Time
Speed, distance, time, graphs of motion
Electric Current and Its Effects
Heating effect, magnetic effect, fuse, MCB
Light
Reflection, plane mirror, concave, convex mirrors
Water — A Precious Resource
Water cycle, groundwater, water conservation
Forests — Our Lifeline
Importance of forests, deforestation, conservation
Wastewater Story
Sewage treatment, safe drinking water
Syllabus — SAT: Mathematics
20 questions · Based on Class 7 & 8 NCERT Mathematics
Rational Numbers
Properties, operations, representation on number line
Linear Equations in One Variable
Solving equations, word problems, applications
Understanding Quadrilaterals
Types of quadrilaterals, properties, angle sum property
Practical Geometry
Construction of quadrilaterals, triangles
Data Handling
Bar graph, pie chart, probability basics, average
Squares and Square Roots
Perfect squares, finding square roots — prime factorisation and long division
Cubes and Cube Roots
Perfect cubes, finding cube roots by prime factorisation
Comparing Quantities
Percentage, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, VAT
Algebraic Expressions and Identities
Addition, subtraction, multiplication of expressions; standard identities
Mensuration
Area of trapezium, rhombus, polygons; surface area and volume of cuboid, cube, cylinder
Exponents and Powers
Laws of exponents, scientific notation
Direct and Inverse Proportions
Word problems — direct and inverse variation
Factorisation
Common factor method, regrouping, using identities
Introduction to Graphs
Bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs, reading and interpreting data
Playing with Numbers
Divisibility rules, puzzles with numbers, general form of numbers
Syllabus — SAT: Social Science
35 questions · History + Geography + Civics + Economics (Class 6-8 NCERT)
How, When and Where
History: how it is studied, official records, British rule
From Trade to Territory
East India Company, battles of Plassey and Buxar
Ruling the Countryside
Revenue settlements, indigo revolt, peasant movements
Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age
Tribal communities, Birsa Munda movement
When People Rebel
1857 revolt — causes, course, impact
Colonialism and the City
Growth of Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta during colonial rule
Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners
Indian textile industry and impact of British rule
Civilising the Native, Educating the Nation
British education policy, Macaulay's minute
Women, Caste and Reform
Social reform movements, role of women
The Changing World of Visual Arts
Indian art, Company painting, Raja Ravi Varma
The Making of the National Movement
Congress, partition of Bengal, freedom movement
India After Independence
Constitution, challenges, reorganisation of states
Resources — Land, Soil, Water, Forests
Types, distribution, conservation of natural resources
Agriculture
Types of farming, crops, cropping patterns, green revolution
Industries
Types of industries, cotton and iron & steel industry
Human Resources
Population distribution, density, growth
The Indian Constitution
Key features, preamble, fundamental rights
Understanding Secularism
Meaning, importance in Indian context
Why Do We Need a Parliament?
Role of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha
Judiciary
Court system, role of judiciary, independence of judiciary
Social Justice and the Marginalised
Scheduled castes, tribes, rights protection
Economic Presence of the Government
Public sector, market, government role in economy
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about NMMS scholarship
What is NMMS scholarship?
NMMS stands for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship. It is a centrally sponsored scholarship scheme by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India, to award ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000/month) to meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds studying in government schools from Class 9 to Class 12.
Who is eligible for NMMS 2026?
Students currently studying in Class 8 in a government, government-aided, or local body school, with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST) in Class 7, and whose annual family income does not exceed ₹3,50,000 are eligible.
Are students in KVS or Navodaya eligible for NMMS?
No. Students studying in KVS, NVS, Sainik Schools, and fully residential government schools are NOT eligible for NMMS scholarship.
What is the exam pattern for NMMS?
NMMS has two papers: MAT (Mental Ability Test) — 90 questions, 90 marks, 90 minutes; and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) — 90 questions, 90 marks, 90 minutes. Both are OMR-based MCQs. No negative marking.
What is the minimum qualifying score?
Candidates must score at least 40% in both MAT and SAT separately (35% for SC/ST) to qualify. Both papers must be cleared independently.
When is the NMMS exam held?
NMMS exam dates vary by state. Most states conduct it between November and February. UP typically holds it in November, Delhi in December, Tamil Nadu in January. Check your state SCERT website for exact dates.
How many scholarships are given under NMMS?
1,00,000 scholarships are awarded nationally every year — distributed state-wise based on enrollment. Each state gets an allocation proportional to its Class 7-8 enrollment in government schools.
Does the NMMS scholarship continue automatically?
No. Students must pass each class with at least 55% marks and continue studying to receive the scholarship each year. There is no separate exam after Class 8 but continuation criteria must be met.