Maharashtra NMMS: Only 3 Days Left to Apply for the ₹12,000-a-Year Scholarship

Class 8 students in Maharashtra have just three days left to register for the NMMS scholarship exam. The Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE), Pune, has extended the application window for the third time, and the new last date is October 28, 2026. After that, the council has made it clear, no forms will be accepted.

The exam is the state-level selection test for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme, a central government scheme that pays students ₹12,000 a year from Class 9 to Class 12. For families where money is tight, that support can cover books, fees, and other school costs for four full years.

What the October 28 deadline means for students

Schools and students can complete registration and submit application forms through the council’s official websites, mscepune.in and mscenmms.in, up to October 28. This is the third extension the council has given, so students who missed the earlier dates get one more chance.

Do not leave it for the last evening. School registration and student forms both have to be done, and the council’s message to schools and principals is plain: finish the process before the deadline, because nothing will be accepted after October 28, online or offline.

₹12,000 a year, for four years

Selected students receive ₹1,000 a month, which adds up to ₹12,000 a year. The money continues from Class 9 through Class 12, as long as the student keeps meeting the renewal rules. Across India, the scheme awards 1,00,000 fresh scholarships every year, and Maharashtra’s share is 11,682 seats.

“The aim of the scheme is simple: stop bright students from dropping out after Class 8 because of money, and help them finish school up to Class 12.”

That is why the test is held in Class 8 itself. Students who clear it start receiving the scholarship the next year, when they enter Class 9.

Who can apply, and who cannot

The rules are strict about the type of school. Only regular Class 8 students in government, government-aided, or local body schools, such as Zilla Parishad and municipal schools, can apply. Students in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools, and private or self-financed schools are not eligible.

On marks, a student needs at least 55% in the Class 7 annual exam. SC and ST students get a 5% relaxation, so 50% is enough for them. The family’s total annual income from all sources must not be more than ₹3.5 lakh. Students already receiving another central government scholarship cannot apply.

If you are unsure whether your school qualifies, ask your class teacher or headmaster first. A form filed from an ineligible school will not help, however good the marks are.

Two papers on December 20, 2026

The Maharashtra NMMS exam will be held on December 20, 2026, in all districts of the state. There are two papers on the same day: the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Together they carry 180 marks, and there is no negative marking, so students should attempt every question.

Students who want a wider picture of the scheme can read our story on the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme deadline for the national application window. The Gujarat NMMS exam follows a similar pattern, and our Gujarat NMMS scholarship guide explains how that state’s dates work.

How to apply before October 28

NMMS applications in Maharashtra go through schools, so the first step is to talk to your school. Here is how the process works:

• Check with your school office that your name is on the list of students being registered.
• Share your Class 7 marksheet, income details, and other documents the school asks for.
• Confirm that the school has submitted your form on the MSCE Pune official website or mscenmms.in before October 28.
• Keep a copy or receipt of the submitted form, and note down your application details.
• Ask the school when admit cards will be available, so you do not miss the December exam.

The council’s fee and document details for this round are listed on its official websites. If anything on the form looks wrong, get it corrected through the school now, not after the window closes.

What to do after you apply

Once the form is in, the real work starts. The MAT tests reasoning and problem solving, while the SAT covers school subjects from Class 7 and 8. Old question papers and practice sets help more than last-minute cramming, and since there is no negative marking, speed and accuracy both matter.

Students who are already planning ahead for other scholarships should keep an eye on the national NMMS verification dates too, because the state exam and the national scheme run on linked timelines. For now, though, the one date that matters in Maharashtra is October 28. Three days is enough time to get a form filed, but only if you start today.