A National Workshop with the State Nodal Officers of National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) was held on 20^th September, 2022.  State Education Officers of States and UTs attended the Workshop which was presided over by Ms. L.S. Changsan, Additional Secretary Department of School Education & Literacy. For the current year 2022-23, to expedite registration of fresh applications as well as renewals the workshop was organised.

On the occasion, Ms Changsan spoke about the importance of timely scholarship payments to children from economically weaker sections and the need for prompt verification of applications by State Level Officers. 

Nodal Officer from NSP made a presentation regarding the registration and verification process on the NSP Portal which was followed by detailed interaction between State Govt officials and officers from the Ministry of Education, DBT and NSP on the implementation modalities involved in the registration, verification and payment process of NMMSS scholarships online through the National Scholarship portal.

Under the ‘National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme’ scholarships are awarded to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage them to continue their education at secondary stage. One lakh fresh scholarships are awarded to selected students from class IX every year and their continuation / renewal in classes X to XII for students studying in State Government, Government-aided and local body schools. The amount of scholarship is Rs. 12000/- per annum.

The National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is boarded on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) - a one stop platform for scholarship schemes given to students. NMMSS scholarships are disbursed directly into the bank accounts of selected students by electronic transfer through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) following DBT mode. This is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.

Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs. 3,50,000/- per annum are eligible to avail the scholarships. The students must have minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class VII examination for appearing in the selection test for award of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students).

*****

MJPS/AK