Rs 12,000 a Year Scholarship: Gujarat NMMS Applications Open Today, Last Date October 24

If you study in Class 8 in a government or aided school in Gujarat, today matters. The State Examination Board (SEB) Gujarat has opened applications for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMS) for 2026-27, and the window is only ten days long. Students who clear the selection exam get Rs 12,000 every year from Class 9 to Class 12, which adds up to Rs 48,000 across four years.

This is the state-level selection exam, so the dates and process are different from the national NSP application cycle. Schools handle the online applications for their students, but parents should know the deadlines so nothing slips.

Ten days to apply, fee window closes October 26

The SEB issued the NMMS notification on October 12, 2026. Applications open on October 15 at 3:00 PM and close on October 24 at 11:59 PM. The fee payment facility stays open a little longer, until October 26.

The selection exam is tentatively scheduled for December 5, 2026. That date can shift, so keep checking the official SEB Gujarat portal for the final timetable and admit card notice.

Who can apply for Gujarat NMMS 2026-27

The scheme is meant for students from economically weaker families studying in government schools. Three conditions decide eligibility.

First, the student must be studying in Class 8 in a government school, a local body school, or a grant-in-aid (aided) school. Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, and private schools cannot apply.

Second, marks. General and OBC students must have scored at least 55% or an equivalent grade in Class 7. SC and ST students need at least 50%.

Third, family income. The combined annual income of the parents or guardians must not be more than Rs 3.5 lakh. You will need an income certificate from a competent authority to prove this.

Gujarat has been allotted a quota of 5,097 students under the scheme this year. That is the number of fresh scholarships the state can award through this exam.

A Class 8 student in a Gujarat government school can now earn Rs 48,000 over four years just by clearing one state exam. The only catch is the deadline: October 24.

What the exam looks like

The NMMS selection test has two papers. The Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) carry 90 multiple-choice questions each, for 90 marks each. There is no negative marking, so students should attempt every question.

To qualify, a student must score at least 40% marks in the two papers taken together. Reserved category students need 32%. Clearing the exam once is not the end of the road. The scholarship continues every year only if the student keeps scoring well: renewal requires at least 55% marks in the previous class final exam, relaxed to 50% for reserved category students.

How the money reaches you

The scholarship is Rs 1,000 per month, paid as Rs 12,000 per year, for the four years from Class 9 to Class 12. It is a central government scheme, so the money comes through Direct Benefit Transfer into the student’s bank account. That happens after the student’s details are registered and verified on the National Scholarship Portal.

The exam fee is small but payable only online: Rs 70 for general, EWS, and OBC students, and Rs 50 for SC, ST, and PH students. Schools collect and complete the applications, so parents should hand over documents early rather than on the last day.

Documents you need ready

Keep these ready before the application starts, because the name on the form must match the name on the student’s Aadhaar card and the school’s U-DISE records.

• Income certificate from a competent authority
• Caste certificate (for reserved category students)
• Class 7 marksheet
• Aadhaar card of the student

Students in aided schools who miss the NMMS should also look at other options. The PM-USP Central Sector Scholarship supports students in Classes 11 and 12 with a higher yearly amount, and our scholarships section tracks deadlines for every major government scheme in one place.

Steps to apply for Gujarat NMMS 2026-27

• Confirm the student meets all three eligibility conditions: Class 8 in a government, local body, or aided school; 55% in Class 7 (50% for SC/ST); family income of Rs 3.5 lakh or less.
• Collect the income certificate, caste certificate, Class 7 marksheet, and Aadhaar card. Check that the student’s name matches on all documents.
• Contact the school headmaster or the school’s nodal officer, because the school completes the online application on the SEB portal.
• Make sure the form is submitted by October 24, 2026, and the fee is paid online by October 26, 2026.
• Save a printout or screenshot of the submitted application and the fee receipt.