| Who it is for | Meritorious students entering Class IX in government or government-aided schools |
| How much per year | Rs 12,000 (Rs 1,000 per month) |
| Parental income limit | Rs 3,50,000 per annum from all sources |
| Duration | Maximum 4 years (Class IX to XII) |
| Application window | 1 June to 31 August 2026 |
| Where to apply | National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) |
| Selection exam | Conducted by your state/UT in November |
What this scholarship actually covers
The National Means Cum Merit Scholarship is a central government scheme run by the Department of School Education & Literacy. It awards 100,000 scholarships each year to students who are both meritorious and from economically weaker families. The money goes directly into your bank account each month—Rs 1,000 for 12 months, totalling Rs 12,000 per year.
The scholarship runs for a maximum of four years, from Class IX through Class XII, but only if you meet the performance requirements each year. It is not a one-time award.
Are you eligible? The rules that actually matter
Your family's income
Your parents' combined income from all sources must not exceed Rs 3,50,000 per annum. This is the single biggest gate. The guidelines do not specify whether this is gross or net income, or which financial year it applies to—you will need to check with your state's scholarship office. Income certificates come from your local revenue or municipal authority, and they take time to issue. Do not wait until August to apply if you need one.
Your school and class
You must be studying in a government school, government-aided school, or local body school. You cannot get this scholarship if you study in a Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, residential school, or private school. The scholarship is for regular full-time students only.
You must be entering Class IX at the time of selection. This means you take the selection exam while still in Class VIII.
Your marks in Class VII
You need a minimum of 55% marks (or equivalent grade) in your Class VII final exam. If you are SC or ST, this drops to 50%. This is a hard cutoff for even appearing in the selection test.
If you are SC or ST
The guidelines allow a 5% relaxation on most percentage requirements—in Class VII marks, in the selection exam cutoff, and later in the Class X marks needed to continue. This is built into the scheme, so you do not need to apply separately for it.
How the selection exam works
Your state or union territory runs its own selection test in November each year. You do not apply to take the exam—your school registers you. The test has two parts:
- Mental Ability Test (MAT): 90 multiple-choice questions testing reasoning, critical thinking, and pattern recognition. Questions cover analogy, classification, numerical series, and similar skills.
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): 90 multiple-choice questions on science, social studies, and mathematics from your Class VII and VIII syllabus.
Each test runs for 90 minutes. If you have a disability, you get extra time as applicable.
To pass, you need at least 40% marks combined across both tests. If you are SC or ST, the cutoff is 32%. Passing both tests is mandatory—you cannot pass on one and fail on the other.
At the time of selection, you also need to have scored at least 55% in your Class VIII final exam (or 50% if you are SC/ST). The scholarship office will verify this from your school records.
Income certificate and documents you will need
When you apply on the National Scholarship Portal, you will need to upload or provide:
- An income certificate issued by your local revenue authority or municipal corporation, dated within the current financial year
- Your Class VII and Class VIII mark sheets
- Proof that you study in an eligible school (usually your school admission certificate or roll number)
- Your bank account details (see below)
- Your Aadhaar number (the guidelines reference UIDAI, so this is likely required)
The guidelines do not list every document explicitly, so check your state's scholarship office website or the National Scholarship Portal for the complete list. Do not assume what you need—ask.
Opening a bank account
Before you apply, open a savings account in your own name at a bank. The guidelines say you can use State Bank of India, any public sector bank, or any scheduled bank with core banking facility. The scholarship money will be transferred directly to this account each month by electronic transfer.
You will need your account number and IFSC code when you fill the application form on the portal.
The application process, step by step
- Check that you meet all eligibility rules above. If you are unsure about your income or school type, ask your school principal or your state's scholarship office first.
- Arrange your income certificate from your local revenue or municipal authority. This typically takes 2–3 weeks. Start early.
- Gather your Class VII and VIII mark sheets, school admission certificate, and bank account details.
- Visit scholarships.gov.in (the National Scholarship Portal) and register as a new user.
- Fill in your personal, family, and school details on the portal.
- Upload scans of your income certificate, mark sheets, and other documents as prompted.
- Submit your application before 31 August 2026.
- Your school will verify your details and forward them to your district scholarship office.
- Your district office will verify again and send to your state office.
- Once your state approves, your name goes on the final list for the November selection exam.
The portal will show you the status of your application at each stage. If any document is missing or unclear, the portal will ask you to resubmit.
If you do not renew your application on the portal within the stipulated time each year, your scholarship will be discontinued and cannot be revived.
What happens after you are selected
If you pass the selection exam and meet the income and marks criteria, you will be awarded the scholarship. The Ministry will then release funds to State Bank of India, which will transfer Rs 1,000 to your bank account each month starting from the month you enter Class IX.
But the money only keeps coming if you meet renewal conditions each year.
To continue in Class X
You must score a minimum of 60% marks in your Class X final exam (or 55% if you are SC/ST). You also must get clear promotion from Class IX to Class X in your first attempt—no repeating the year.
To continue in Class XI and XII
The same rule applies: 60% in Class X (or 55% for SC/ST), plus clear promotion from Class X to XI and from XI to XII, each in the first attempt.
If your school does not conduct a final exam at the end of Class IX or XI, you can continue on a certificate from your principal confirming you have been promoted.
What stops the scholarship immediately
Your scholarship ends if:
- You drop below 60% marks in Class X (or 55% if SC/ST)
- You repeat a class instead of getting clear promotion
- You move to a private school, residential school, or Kendriya Vidyalaya
- You take a break of one full academic year for any reason
- You do not renew your application on the National Scholarship Portal within the deadline each year
- You leave your course within one month of admission
Once stopped, the scholarship cannot be restarted under any circumstance. This is absolute.
Money matters
You can hold only one scholarship under any central government scheme at a time. If you are already receiving another central scholarship, you must choose which one to keep.
The scholarship amount is fixed at Rs 12,000 per year for five years (2021–22 to 2025–26), even if your state's quota changes based on the 2021 Census.
No scholarship is available for studying abroad. If you go abroad, your scholarship stops.
If you want to claim arrears (money owed from previous months), you must do so within 12 months of the academic session for which you are claiming. After that, the claim is rejected.
State-wise number of scholarships
Each state and union territory has a fixed quota of scholarships based on school enrolment in Classes VII and VIII and the child population of the relevant age. Uttar Pradesh has the largest quota with 15,143 scholarships. Smaller states and UTs have far fewer—Lakshadweep has 10, for example.
This means competition varies by state. In a state with a smaller quota, it may be harder to get selected even if you pass the exam, because only the top scorers within that quota are awarded.
Key dates for 2026
| Application window | 1 June to 31 August 2026 |
| Selection exam | November 2026 (exact date set by your state) |
| Results | Typically December 2026 or January 2027 (varies by state) |
| Scholarship disbursement begins | Once you enter Class IX and your name is on the final approved list |
These are the national windows. Your state may announce its own calendar within these dates. Check your state's education department website and the National Scholarship Portal regularly.
Where to get help
Your school's principal or the staff member handling scholarships should be your first point of contact. They know the local rules, the exact exam date, and which documents your state requires.
You can also contact your state's scholarship office directly, or visit the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) where you can find state-specific helplines and FAQs.
The Ministry of Education does not handle individual applications—the portal and your state do. So if you have a question about your specific application, ask your state's scholarship office, not the Ministry.
Official source:
National Means Cum Merit Scholarship - scheme guidelines (PDF)
· National Scholarship Portal
Verified against the official guidelines on 2026-08-13. Confirm current dates and amounts on the official portal before applying.