National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) - Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) Guidelines - 2013 April 25

Sep 30, 2026

Information on the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) exam and its administration under a Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) system. Specifies annual conduct for class VIII students, eligibility for class VII based on marks and parental income threshold, and the Delhi quota of 1576 scholarships. Includes exam structure with MAT and SAT subjects. Further provides DBT operational guidance using Aadhaar and the Aadhaar Payment Bridge, details on phased rollout, digitization and database seeding, and references planning and ministry order numbers for implementation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Eligibility and Exam Structure

Eligibility criteria

Number of scholarships and examination fee

Papers: MAT and SAT

DBT System and Implementation Guidance

Aadhaar-based payment advice

Phased rollout of DBT

Digitization, bank accounts, and data seeding

Referenced guidelines and orders

雄 NATIONAL MEANS-CUM-MERIT SCHOLARSHIP(NMMS) The Nationai Means -cum-Merit Scholarship Examination(NMMS)isconducted every year by Science Branch of Directorate of Education,Delhi usuallyin the month of November for the students studying in class VIII of Govt./Aidedschools.It is a centrally sponsored scheme of Ministry of Human ResourceDevelopment (MHRD)Govt.of India. Eligibility:-The student studying in class VII and must have secured 55%marks(for general category)or 50%marks(for reserve category i.e.SC/ST/PH)in classVII.The annual income of the parents of the student appearing in the examinationshould not exceed Rs.1,50,000/-(Rs one lac fifty thousand only)from all sources. No.of scholarships:-The Delhi State has a quota of 1576 scholarships. Examination fee:-No examination fee is charged for appearing in thisexamination. Type of Examination:-The examination consists of two papers 1.Mental Ability Test (MAT) 2.Scholastic Aptitude Test(SAT):-This consists of 8 subjects -Physics,Chemistry,Mathematics,Biology,History,Geography,Civics,andEconomics. The detail of the two papers is as under:- Sr.No.Sub.No.of QuestionsMarksTime TakenMAT909090 min.IISAT909090 min. 工 For any clarification in the matter,please contact 011-26280413. B9) F.No.8-10/2012-SS(Vol IV)Government of India # Ministry of Human Resource DevelopmentDepartment of Secondary Education &Literary Shastri Bhawan,New DclhiDated 25ᵗApril,2013 To The Principal Secretaries/Secretaries(In-charge of Secondary Education)States/UTs(As per list attached) Subject:School Education -Direct Benefits Transfer(DBT)-National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Schemc(NMMSS)-rcgarding. Sir/Madam, This has reference to Centrally Sponsored Scheme "National Means-cum-MeritScholarship Scheme (NMMSS)"of the Department of School Education &Literacy,Ministryof Human Resource Development. 2.The Direct Benefits Transfer(DBT)System had been launched by the Government ofIndia in 43 pilot districts of 16 States/UTs w.ef01.01.2013.As already intimated,the NMMSShas been covered under the DBT system. 3.DBT system envisages direct payment to beneficiarics based on Aadhaar numberthrough Aadhaar Payment Bridge(APB).As per Planning Commissions’OM No.I-11011/40/2012-DCT dated 08.01.2013,the Payment advice would contain the Aadhaar numberand Bank Account Number for the Payments to be made under the DBT till 31.03.2013,afterwhich a review would be undertaken to examine the need for inclusion of the bank accountnumber in the Payment advice.Once,Aadhaar coverage is complete,the Payment advice shouldissue with only the Aadhaar number and,bank account details shall not be included in thePayment Advice,thereafter. 4.Accordingly,it was decided to introduce a new system/process forsanction/disbursement of scholarships for the scheme and detailed guidelines were issued videletter of even number dated 13March,2013(copy enclosed).These instructions are alsoavailable on the Ministry of HRD's website www.mhrd.gov.in in DBT Section. 5. The Govemment of India have now decided to rollout the second phase of DBT from 1stJuly,2013.Instructions for this Rollout were issued through letter no.8-10/2013-SS dated 22nApril,2013 from the Department of School Education &Literacy,Govenment of India to allState Govenments.These instructions are also available on the Ministry of HRD's website —2— www.mhrd.gov.in in DBT Section.In this phase,78 morc districts will be covered in addition tothe 43 districts already covered under DBT.These districts include UIDAI as well as NPRdistricts.It has also been decided that the DBT programme will be rolled out in all the districtsin phases.It has therefore been agreed that irrespective of the rollout of DBT,the process ofdigitization of databases should begin in all districts as this is a critical activity which necd notawait the DBT rollout in rest of the districts.It is therefore requested to take necessary followup action immediately for opcning o

FAQs

What are the eligibility requirements for NMMS applicants?

Applicants must be studying in class VII and must meet the required marks threshold (55% for general category, 50% for reserved categories such as SC/ST/PH). The parents’ annual income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 1,50,000.

What is the structure of the NMMS examination?

The examination consists of two papers: Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). SAT covers eight subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, History, Geography, Civics, and Economics.

How does the DBT system handle scholarship payments under NMMS?

The DBT system enables direct payment to beneficiaries based on Aadhaar number via the Aadhaar Payment Bridge (APB). Payment advice includes Aadhaar and bank account details up to a specified review date, after which it should contain only the Aadhaar number.

Sep 30, 2026

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