NSP National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme: Apply Now

The National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) is an initiative by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India. This program aims to provide financial assistance to talented students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) who are studying in government, government-assisted or local body schools. The scheme covers students of Class 9 to minimize the rate of dropouts after Class 8 and provide support to students who desire to undergo secondary education.

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Table of Contents

Objectives of the NSP National Means Cum Merit Scholarship

The core objectives of the NMMS are to:

Support financially deserving students from low-income families.
Decrease the rate of student dropout after the completion of class 8.
Inspire and motivate the students to further their education at a higher level.
Advocating for equal access to education for children from different segments of the society.

Key Benefits of the Scholarship

The NSP National Means Cum Merit Scholarship offers several valuable benefits to its recipients:

Scholarship Amount: The selected candidates receive a scholarship worth ₹12000 annually.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): The scholarship amount is credited directly to the Aadhaar-linked account of the recipient.
Widespread Impact: Each year, nearly a hundred thousand students from different parts of India receive this scholarship, contributing towards educational enhancement.

Eligibility Criteria for NSP National Means Cum Merit Scholarship

To be eligible for the National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme, applicants must meet the following criteria:

General Eligibility

Nationality: The applicant’s nationality should be Indian.
Class: The candidate should be a student of Class IX in any recognized Govt, Government-aided, or Local Body school.
Academic Performance: The students must have secured at least 60% marks in class 8 (5% relaxation for SC/ST students).

Income Limit

Household income should be below ₹350000 from all sources, including overdraft, gross income and yearly earnings.

Additional Requirements

Students must consistently achieve good grades throughout the study periods and progress through every year without failing exams.

Renewal Criteria for Continued Scholarship

Students awarded the scholarship must fulfil the following renewal criteria:

Academic Performance: To remain eligible for the scholarship, the minimum percentage is 60%. There’s a 5% Relaxation for SC/ST students.
Promotion Requirement: Only students who have passed their class on their first attempt are permitted to advance to the corresponding class of the next academic year
Non-exam Schools: In other cases, the head teacher of the institution certifies completion of the requirements to continue studies.

Required Documents for Application

The following documents are essential for completing the scholarship application:

Academic Transcripts: Certificates and marks sheets of the last qualifying exam.
Income Certificate: Family income evidence issued by authority.
Caste Certificate: Where necessary
Aadhaar Card: For identity confirmation.
Bank Details: Bank details should be of Aadhaar seeded Bank Account for DBT purposes.
Disability Certificate: If any, for students with disability.

NSP National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Application Process

Eligible students can follow these steps to apply for the NSP National Means Cum Merit Scholarship:

Visit the Official NSP Website: Open the official site of the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and proceed by selecting the ‘Apply Now’ button.
Register/Login: Click the ‘Register’ button if you are applying for the first time. Existing users can log in with their Gmail account mobile number or email id.
Access the Students Section: On the dashboard, select the second item, ‘Students’, after which click ‘Login’.
Complete the Registration Process: To complete the OTR registration, input your phone number and the OTP, sent to your phone.
Fill in the Application Form: Give precise information, attach relevant documents if required and complete the form’s submission.

Important Dates and Deadlines

For 2024, applicants should note the following dates:

Application Deadline: 15th November 2024. Students must submit their documents by this date to apply for the scholarship.

Selection Process and Exam Details

The National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme exam is for Class 8 candidates based on the evaluation of marks attained in the Class 8 Board examination. It comprises two tests:

(i) MAT – Mental Ability test – estimates reasoning and mental processes.

(ii) SAT – Scholastic Aptitude test – measures formal education subjects studied in schools and assesses general academic.

Both tests are to be completed in 90 minutes; however, extra time is allotted if needed for candidates who may have disabilities. The minimum requirement in each paper is forty per cent marks (thirty-five per cent for SC/ ST)

Important Terms and Conditions

Some of the essential terms for maintaining the scholarship include:

No Overseas Study: This scholarship applies only to Indian students who wish to study within the country.
No Gaps in Academic Session: If the gap in the academic session is more than a year, they will ignore your request to claim the scholarship.
Continuity Requirement: A student who drops out of the course for one month or less after registration would lose this scholarship.
Medical Exemptions: The medical certificate would allow the student to defer studies in situations of serious health decline.

Guidelines for Continuation and Gap Year Clauses

The NSP National Means Cum Merit Scholarship allows continuing, subject to the following conditions:

Students must provide a medical certificate for illness.
To avoid getting disqualified, students must reappear for the subsequent examination within three months of the due date of the next exam.

Additional Requirements and Regulations

To achieve transparency and effectiveness, the awardees of the NMMS scheme may require:

Present their recent academic performance sheets.
Not have any gaps in academics unless there is a certificate from a doctor that mentions the reason for missing classes.
Follow up with the school management regarding appraisals from time to time.
Relevance of the Annual Evaluation in the Framework of the Scheme

Contact Information for Assistance

For more assistance, applicants can contact:

Ministry of Education, Department of School Education & Literacy

Address: Shastri Bhawan, Dr Rajendra Prasad Rd, Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat, New Delhi-110001
Phone Number: (0120) 661954
Email: [email protected]

Conclusion

The Nation Means cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS) scheme is crucial in ensuring that students from underprivileged backgrounds can get quality education in India. Its funds may assist in narrowing educational inequities, hence allowing more students to complete their secondary and higher secondary education. Furthermore, the structure and competitive selection of scholarships ensure that only those who deserve the scholarships get the benefit.

FAQs

How do scholarship students receive how much amount?

Students who are eligible for this program receive up to ₹12,000/year (₹1,000 per month).

Can students reapply after being refused; if so, how many times?

Reapplications or multiple submissions may result in disqualification.

If I am studying outside of India, can I apply for this scholarship?

Students from abroad are ineligible for this scholarship because it is for courses of study within India.

How do I know the status of my scholarship after application?

If you log in to the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), you can check the progress of your application and the changes with your application.