Overview & Important Highlights
The Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE), Assam has published the official notification for the National Means Merit Scholarship Examination (NMMS) 2026. Sponsored by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, this centrally sponsored scheme aims to support meritorious students from economically weaker sections. A total state quota of 2,411 scholarships is allotted to Assam for the 2026-27 academic session. Selected candidates receive financial assistance of ₹12,000 per annum (₹1,000 per month) from Class IX to Class XII via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
The examination is scheduled to take place on 28 November 2026 across 169 designated examination centres statewide. Candidates studying in Class VIII in eligible schools can submit their online applications until 8 November 2026. Completion of One-Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is mandatory before filling out the state application form.
Eligibility & Selection Criteria
Applicants must strictly satisfy the eligibility conditions laid down by the Department of School Education & Literacy:
- Academic Qualification: The candidate must be currently enrolled in Class VIII during the 2026-27 academic session in a Government or Provincialised school under the Department of School Education, Government of Assam.
- Class VII Marks Criteria: Candidates must have secured a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class VII. A relaxation of 5% is granted to SC/ST candidates (minimum 50% required).
- Parental Income Limit: The total annual income of the student's parents from all sources must not exceed ₹3.50 Lakh per annum.
- Ineligible Categories: While students from Private schools, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), and Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) may sit for the examination, they are not eligible for the scholarship award under scheme rules.
selection is based entirely on performance in the written test comprising the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) conducted on OMR answer sheets.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Eligible candidates can complete their application online by following the procedure outlined below:
- NSP OTR Registration: Visit the official National Scholarship Portal and complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) using Aadhaar and personal details to generate an OTR ID.
- Access Application Portal: Visit the official DSE Assam scholarship portal and select the Assam NMMS Exam 2026 application link.
- Fill Details: Select your district and exam center, then carefully input student details, Aadhaar number, and the correct UDISE Code of your current school.
- Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of the student photo (below 35 KB), full signature (below 30 KB), and relevant Caste or Disability certificates (below 100 KB) in JPG/JPEG format.
- Fee Payment / Exemption: Pay the prescribed exam fee online. Note that top-performing students nominated by their respective schools under fee-exemption rules will be exempted as per DSE guidelines.
- Final Submission: Verify all details thoroughly before submitting. Download and print the confirmation page for reference.
Important Instructions & Advice
Candidates and school heads must ensure that the UDISE code of the school is entered accurately, as scholarship routing depends on proper school mapping. Heads of Institutions should submit the fee exemption lists for eligible top students to the Inspector of Schools by the stipulated deadline (27 October 2026). Candidates should ensure that the mobile number and bank account linked with Aadhaar remain active to enable seamless Direct Benefit Transfer upon selection.