National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2024: Apply Now on NSP, Check Eligibility and Documents Required

The deadline for students to apply for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2024–2025 has been extended by the Ministry of Education. Students can apply for the scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). 

The deadline for online submission has been moved up to October 31, 2024. Students who meet the requirements can apply by going to the official website, scholarships.gov.in/student.

What is NSP?

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is a single place for students looking for financial help to continue their education. Started by the Indian government, NSP provides various scholarships to assist talented and deserving students from different backgrounds.

NSP Scholarship Application 

There have been 84,606 new applications and 158,312 renewal applications submitted as of October 15, 2024.

The scholarship amount under the NMMSS is directly transferred to the selected students' bank accounts using the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method. This ensures the funds are deposited quickly and securely. To be eligible, students must score at least 55% in their Class VII exams. For SC/ST students, the requirement is relaxed to 50%. Additionally, the parent's annual income should not exceed Rs. 3.5 lakh.

NSP Scholarship Amount

According to the official announcement: "The program offers one lakh new scholarships annually to Class IX students who successfully complete the qualifying examination administered by State/UT administrations. The scholarship is renewable for Classes X through XII, contingent on the student's academic standing. Only pupils enrolled in local body, government-aided, and state government schools are eligible for the program. The annual scholarship award is Rs. 12,000 for each student."

Eligibility Criteria for NSP

Before applying for any scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal, it's important to check the eligibility criteria. While each scholarship may have specific requirements, there are some common criteria that apply to most of the scholarships listed.

• Citizenship: Be an Indian citizen.
• Financially Criteria: Come from a financially weak family.
• Annual Income: Have a yearly family income below Rs 2,50,000.
• Academic Performance: Maintain good academic performance.
• Additional Criteria: Meet any extra requirements for the scholarship you’re applying for (like disability or minority status).

Documents Required for Scholarships

Before applying for any scholarship on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), make sure to have the following documents ready. Some scholarships may ask for additional documents, but these are commonly required:

• Aadhaar card
• Identity card
• Residence certificate
• Income certificate
• Caste certificate (if applicable)
• Marks list of the previous class
• Admission slip of the current class
• Bank passbook
• Passport-sized photograph
• Mobile number

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