The Union Government has invited applications from eligible school students for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) aimed at preventing school dropouts and promoting continuation of education from Class IX to Class XII.

Eligibility Criteria:
Students must have secured a minimum of 55% marks in Class VIII from a recognised government or government-aided school. The qualifying mark is 50% for SC/ST candidates. The annual parental income must not exceed ₹3.5 lakh.
To renew the scholarship in Class XI, students must score at least 60% in Class X (55% for SC/ST). The scholarship is applicable only to students studying within India and does not cover diploma or certificate courses.

Scholarship Details:
Awarded for four years — from Class IX to XII.
1 lakh students selected annually.
Scholarship amount: ₹1,000 per month (₹12,000 per year).
Selection through a written examination; no application fee.

How to Apply:
Application forms are available at https://scholarships.gov.in/ApplicationForm/login and respective state government websites. Students must download, fill in the form and submit it along with required documents.

Examination Pattern:
The test comprises two papers:
Mental Ability Test (MAT)
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
Each paper carries 90 marks, covering Class VII and VIII syllabi in Mathematics, Social Science and General Science. Candidates get 90 minutes per paper (total 180 questions in 180 minutes). A minimum of 40% marks in each paper is required to qualify (32% for SC/ST).

Last Date to Apply: August 31
For more information: https://scholarships.gov.in/All-Scholarships