The Department of School Education & Literacy National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) supports meritorious students from economically weaker sections to continue their studies at the secondary stage. It offers financial assistance to students in Classes 9 to 12 whose parental income does not exceed the limit prescribed by the scheme. The scholarship is awarded on an annual basis and is distributed across States and Union Territories based on fixed quotas. Reservation for different categories follows the norms of each State or Union Territory.

Students studying in Class 9 are eligible to apply. The applicant’s parental income from all sources must not exceed the ceiling defined in the scheme guidelines. The student must have secured at least 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class 8 examination (relaxation of 5% for SC/ST students). The scholarship is open to all categories including General, OBC, EBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD, and DNT as per State/UT reservation policies.

Applications are submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Students must register on the portal, fill in personal and academic details, and upload required documents such as income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), disability certificate (if applicable), and mark sheets. After submission, the application is verified by the school and the State/UT authority before final approval.