National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme 2024

Description:

The Central Sector Scheme ‘National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme’ was launched in 2008, after getting approval from CCEA, to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage them to continue their education at the secondary stage. One lakh fresh scholarships are awarded to selected students of class IX every year and their continuation/renewal in classes X to XII for study in State Government, Government-aided, and Local body schools under the scheme.

Eligibility criteria:

• Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs. 3,50,000/- per annum are eligible to avail of the scholarship.
• Students must have a minimum of 55 % marks or equivalent grade in the Class VII examination to appear in the selection test for the award of a scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students).
• Students should be studying as regular students in a Government, Government-aided, and local body school.
• Students of NVS, KVS, and residential schools are not entitled to the scholarship. There is reservation as per State Government norms.

Selection of Fresh Awardee Students:

• Each State/UT conducts its test for the selection of students for the award of the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship. The test is conducted at the stage of class VIII.
• Students who fulfill the eligibility criteria must pass both the tests, i.e., the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) under the NMMSS exam 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 Awardees Students:

• The awardees should get a minimum of 60% marks in Class X for continuation of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST candidates) in the next higher classes.
• For continuing the scholarship in class X and XII, the awardees should get a clear promotion from class IX to class X and from class XI to class XII on the first attempt.