The online form for Gujarat’s NMMS scholarship exam has not opened yet, but the dates are out: you can apply from 15.10.2026 (3 PM) to 24.10.2026 (11:59 PM) at sebexam.org. NMMS stands for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship, a Government of India scheme that pays bright students from low-income families so they do not drop out before Class 12. The State Examination Board, Gandhinagar will run the Gujarat exam for Class 8 students, and the board has pencilled in 05.12.2026 as the exam date.
Notice to reach schools (District Primary Education Officers)
By 14.10.2026
Online application form
15.10.2026 (3:00 PM) to 24.10.2026 (11:59 PM)
Online fee payment
15.10.2026 to 26.10.2026
Exam date (tentative)
05.12.2026
Exam Fee
Category
Fee
General, EWS and OBC
Rs 70
PH, SC and ST
Rs 50
Service charge
Extra, paid separately by the student
Refund
The fee is not refunded in any case
EWS means Economically Weaker Section. PH means a student with a disability, which is how the notice words it.
Eligibility Criteria
Criterion
Detail
Class
Studying in Class 8 in the current school year (2026-27)
School type
Government, local-body or grant-in-aid primary schools
Local-body schools
District panchayat, municipal corporation or municipality schools
Not eligible (1)
Students of private and self-financed schools
Not eligible (2)
Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
Not eligible (3)
Government residential schools that give stay, food and study
Marks in Class 7
General and OBC: at least 55%. SC and ST: at least 50% (or equal grade)
Family income
Parents’ total income up to Rs 3,50,000 a year
PH sub-category: BLV
Blindness and low vision
PH sub-category: DH
Deaf and hard of hearing
PH sub-category: LD
Locomotor disability, including cerebral palsy, cured leprosy, dwarfism, acid attack and muscular dystrophy
PH sub-category: AID
Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness
PH sub-category: MD
Multiple disabilities, including deaf-blindness
Age Limit
Not specified in notification
So a Class 8 student at a government school who scored 55% in Class 7 and whose family earns under Rs 3.5 lakh a year is eligible on paper. A student from a private school is not, whatever the marks.
Scholarship Amount and Payment
Component
Detail
Amount
Rs 1,000 a month, which is Rs 12,000 a year
Duration
4 years, to help the student study up to Class 12
Who gets it
Students who qualify and rank inside their district and category quota
Paid by
Ministry of Education, New Delhi, straight into the student’s bank account
First step
A fresh application on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
Later years
A renewal application on the NSP each year
Verification
The school and the district nodal officer verify each NSP application
Maths, science and social science of Classes 7 and 8
SAT syllabus
Class 7: last year’s syllabus. Class 8: first-term syllabus of this year
Question style
Multiple choice, 1 mark each, no negative marking
Question level
Competency based, as NEP-2020 asks
Medium
English or Gujarati, as the student chooses
Qualifying marks
Both papers added together: General and OBC 40%, SC and ST 32%
Final selection
Top scorers inside the district-wise, category-wise quota
Extra time
60 extra minutes for students who write with a scribe (a helper who writes the answers)
In short: you write two papers and your marks in both are added together. You must first cross the qualifying mark, but crossing it is not enough, because the scholarship goes only to the top scorers within your district and category quota.
How to Apply
Go to sebexam.org, click “Apply Online”, then click “Apply Now” next to “National means cum merit Scholarship Scheme (STD-8)”.
Fill the whole form in English. Write the student’s name exactly as it appears on the Aadhaar card, enter the Aadhaar number and upload both sides of the Aadhaar. Fill the school details using the school’s U-DISE number (a unique school code).
Click Submit. An Application Number is generated, so keep it safe. SC, ST and PH students must also fill in the certificate number and date, and upload the income certificate and the caste certificate.
Click “Upload photo-Signature” at the top of the page, enter your Application Number and birth date, and upload the photo and signature as JPG files of 15 KB or less.
Click “Confirm Application”, enter your Application Number and birth date again, and click Submit. The application is accepted only after this step.
Click “Print Application and Fee Challan”, enter your Confirmation Number and birth date, and print the application.
Pay the fee online by credit card, ATM card, net banking, UPI or wallet. Save the e-receipt that appears after payment.
Note: the application counts only after you confirm it and pay the fee. Check the e-receipt status: a receipt marked “Transaction Unsuccessful” means the fee has not been paid. If money leaves your bank account but no e-receipt appears within 24 hours, email the State Examination Board right away. The notice says the school is fully responsible for filling the online forms of its students.
Photograph or signature rejected by the upload form?
The NMMS form accepts only JPG files of 15 KB or less. If your photo or signature is bigger, resize it to that size first, then upload it in Step 4 above.
Attach the first five or six of these papers to the printed application, as they apply to the student. The school principal checks that the student fits the income limit and the category claimed.
Do not spell the student’s name differently from the Aadhaar card. The notice says the name must match Aadhaar, and the school’s U-DISE record, so check all three before you submit.
Do not apply for a student from a private, self-financed, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya or residential government school. These students cannot take this exam.
Do not stop after filling the form. You must confirm the application and pay the fee, or it is not accepted.
Do not trust a receipt that says “Transaction Unsuccessful”. It means the fee was not paid.
Do not expect the Board to fix errors later. It runs only the exam, does not check documents, and will not make corrections afterwards.
Do not upload a photo or signature above 15 KB, and do not use any format except JPG.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for Gujarat NMMS 2026-27?
You can fill the online form from 15.10.2026 at 3 PM until 24.10.2026 at 11:59 PM, and the fee can be paid until 26.10.2026.
When is the Gujarat NMMS exam?
The board has given 05.12.2026 as the likely date, so wait for its confirmation before you plan around it.
Who can apply for NMMS in Gujarat?
A Class 8 student of a government, local-body or grant-in-aid school, with 55% in Class 7 (50% for SC and ST) and family income up to Rs 3,50,000 a year.
Can a student from a private school or Navodaya apply?
No, the notice rules out private and self-financed schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and government residential schools.
How much is the NMMS exam fee?
It is Rs 70 for General, EWS and OBC students and Rs 50 for PH, SC and ST students, plus a service charge, and it is never refunded.
How much scholarship does a student get, and how many students will get it in Gujarat?
A selected student gets Rs 1,000 a month (Rs 12,000 a year) for four years, and Gujarat’s total quota is 5,097 students.
Is there negative marking in NMMS?
No, every question carries 1 mark and wrong answers do not lose marks.
What marks do I need to qualify?
General and OBC students need 40% of the total marks of both papers and SC and ST students need 32%, but only those who also rank inside their district and category quota get the scholarship.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
