NMMS Maharashtra 2025–26: Exam Date, Form, Eligibility, Apply
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Maharashtra 2025–26 exam for Class 8 students will be conducted by the Maharashtra State Examination Council, Pune (MSCE Pune) in all districts of the state.
As per the latest official circulars:
The NMMS for Maharashtra 2025–26 exam for Class 8 will be held on 21 December 2025 (revised from the earlier planned 28 December 2025 due to date clash with another state exam).
Notification_Note_2025_26
The online application dates and fee deadlines have also been extended.
If you are a student, parent, or teacher in Maharashtra, this guide gives you a simple, updated and complete explanation of Maharashtra NMMS 2025–26, including dates, eligibility, fees, exam pattern, scholarship amount and renewal rules.
What is NMMS for Maharashtra 2025–26?
The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India. It has been running since 2008 to:
- Identify meritorious students from economically weaker sections
- Prevent drop-out after Class 8
- Help them continue education up to Class 12 by giving them a scholarship
- Under this scheme:
- 1,00,000 scholarships are awarded every year across India
- The scholarship amount is ₹1,000 per month (₹12,000 per year)
- It is paid from Class 9 to Class 12 (maximum 4 years), subject to renewal rules
- Maharashtra’s quota is 11,682 scholarships as per the latest central allocation
NMMS for Maharashtra 2025–26: Important Dates (Updated)
According to the latest notification and revised circular issued by MSCE Pune, the schedule is:
| Event | Expected Date |
| Notification published | 12 September 2025 |
| Online application (with regular fee) | From 23 September 2025 to 21 October 2025 (extended) |
| Online application (with late fee): | From 22 October 2025 to 28 October 2025 (extended – “विलंब शुल्कासह”) |
| NMMS exam date for Maharashtra (final): | 21 December 2025, Sunday – in all districts of Maharashtra |
Extra-fee category (“अतिरिक्त शुल्कासह”) has been cancelled – it will not be applicable now as per the latest circular.
Notification_Note_2025_26
After 28 October 2025, no applications will be accepted in any condition (online or school level).
Who is Eligible for Maharashtra NMMS 2025–26?
To appear for the NMMS Class 8 exam in 2025–26 at Maharashtra, a student must satisfy all the following conditions:
- Class and School Type
- Student must be studying in Class 8 (academic year 2025–26) in:
- Government schools
- Local body schools (Zilla Parishad / Municipal Corporation / Municipal Council)
Government-aided schools
- Student must be studying in Class 8 (academic year 2025–26) in:
- Minimum Marks in Class 7
- General / OBC / EWS: At least 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class 7
- SC / ST: At least 50% marks or equivalent grade in Class 7
- Parental Income Limit (Revised)
- Combined annual income of parents (mother + father/guardian) must be ₹3,50,000 or less from all sources, as per the 2024–25 income year.
- Notification_Note_2025_26
- A valid income certificate from competent authority is compulsory.
- Not Eligible Categories
- The following students cannot apply for NMMS for Maharashtra quota:
- Students of private / self-financed schools
- Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas
- Students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
- Students studying in residential schools run by Central/State Government or any institution where free boarding, lodging and education is provided
- Students studying in Sainik Schools
- The following students cannot apply for NMMS for Maharashtra quota:
Documents Required for Maharashtra NMMS Application
While filling the online form, the following documents/information are required (to be uploaded as clear scanned copies):
- Student’s passport-size photograph
- Student’s signature
- Caste certificate (for SC/ST/OBC where applicable)
- Income certificate (from authorised officer such as Tahsildar / Taluka Development Officer / Talati, etc.)
- Class 7 marksheet or equivalent proof
- Disability certificate (for PH category, if applicable)
- School’s U-DISE code
- Valid mobile number and email ID
NMMS Maharashtra 2025–26: Application & Fee Structure (Updated)
Online Application Process
Application is accepted only online through the following official websites:
- www.mscepune.in
- www.mscenmms.in
How To Apply for Scholarship in 2025-26
Basic steps:
- School or student visits mscepune.in / mscenmms.in
- Select NMMS 2025–26 (Class 8)
- Fill all details in the online form (student, school, income, caste, etc.)
- Upload required documents and photo/signature
- Confirm the application
- Pay the applicable exam fee online
- Save/print the application and fee receipt
- Exam Fees (as per latest circular)
- Regular fee (नियमित शुल्कासह): Approx. ₹120 per student
- With late fee (विलंब शुल्कासह): Approx. ₹240 per student
- Extra-fee category (अतिरिक्त शुल्कासह): No longer applicable – cancelled in latest circular
Note:
(Online payment gateway service charges may be extra.)
Fees once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.
NMMS Maharashtra 2025–26 Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The exam consists of two papers, both held on the same day and both are objective MCQ-type:
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
- Questions: 90
- Marks: 90
- Duration: 90 minutes (10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon as per information booklet)
MAT checks:
- Reasoning & logical thinking
- Analogy
- Classification
- Number series
- Pattern perception
- Hidden figures and similar meta-cognitive skills
- Blind/visually impaired students get extra 30 minutes.
2. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
- Questions: 90
- Marks: 90
- Duration: 90 minutes (generally 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
SAT covers three subjects based on Class 7 and Class 8 syllabus:
- General Science – 35 marks
- Physics, Chemistry, Biology
- Social Science – 35 marks
- History, Geography, Civics
- Mathematics – 20 marks
Questions are competency-based and follow the current Maharashtra state board syllabus.
Medium of Question Paper
- Marathi
- Urdu
- Hindi
- Gujarati
- English
- Telugu
- Kannada
- Sindhi
(Students choose one medium while filling the form; question paper will be given in that medium.)
Qualifying Marks & Selection Criteria
To be considered for scholarship under NMMS quota of Maharashtra:
- Student must appear in both papers – MAT and SAT
- Must secure at least 40% marks in total (MAT + SAT) for General/OBC/EWS
- Must secure at least 32% marks in total (MAT + SAT) for SC/ST and PH students
As Per Latest Notification
From the students who achieve these qualifying marks, district-wise and category-wise merit lists are prepared according to Maharashtra’s allocated quota (11,682 scholarships). Only students within this quota will receive the scholarship.
Keep in Mind
There is no negative marking as per the latest booklet.
NMMS Scholarship Amount and Duration in Maharashtra
Students selected from the NMMS exam (Maharashtra) will receive:
- ₹1,000 per month
- ₹12,000 per year
From Class 9 to Class 12 (maximum 4 years), subject to renewal conditions
Amount Disbursement
Scholarship is disbursed via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) directly into the student’s bank account through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) after verification by the school, district and state nodal officers.
Renewal Rules for NMMS Scholarship (Classes 9–12)
To continue receiving the scholarship every year:
Student must get clear promotion from:
- Class 8 → Class 9
- Class 9 → Class 10
- Class 11 → Class 12 (in first attempt)
Student must score at least:
60% marks in Class 10 (relaxable to 55% for SC/ST)
Student must continue in an approved school (government, aided, local body) as a regular full-time student
Student must apply and renew on NSP within the given time
There should be no gap of one academic year – if there is a gap, scholarship is discontinued and cannot be restarted
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