Is your child in Class 8 at a government or provincialised school in Assam? Then the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Examination is one of the most valuable tests they can take this year. Clear it, and they can receive ₹12,000 every year from Class 9 to Class 12 — ₹48,000 in total — paid straight into their bank account.
The Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE), Assam has opened applications for the NMMS Exam 2026. The last date to apply is 8 November 2026 and the exam is on 28 November 2026, so there is very little time left. This guide covers everything you need: eligibility, the exam pattern, important dates, how to apply, a 4-week study plan, and the book our team recommends.
Assam NMMS Exam 2026 at a Glance
| Exam name | National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Examination (NMMSE) 2026 |
| Conducted by | Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE), Assam |
| Scheme by | Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India |
| Who can apply | Class VIII students (2026-27 session) |
| Scholarships for Assam | 2,411 |
| Scholarship amount | ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000/month), Class IX to XII |
| Exam date | 28 November 2026 (169 centres across Assam) |
| Exam mode | Offline, MCQs on OMR sheet |
| Exam medium | Assamese, English, Hindi, Bengali and Bodo |
| Official website | madhyamik.assam.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification & application start | 12 August 2026 |
| Schools send fee-exemption list to Inspector of Schools | 27 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 8 November 2026 |
| E-admit card | 12 November 2026 |
| Exam date | 28 November 2026 |
Who Is Eligible for the NMMS Scholarship?
- Class: The student must be studying in Class VIII in the 2026-27 session.
- School: Only students of Government and Provincialised schools under the Department of School Education, Assam are considered for the scholarship.
- Class VII marks: At least 55% (or equivalent grade). SC/ST students get a 5% relaxation, so 50% is enough.
- Family income: Parents’ total annual income from all sources must not be more than ₹3.5 lakh.
Note for private school, JNV and KV students: You can sit for the exam, but you will not be selected for the scholarship. Many still take it for the practice — it is excellent preparation for future competitive exams.
NMMS Exam Pattern 2026
The exam has two papers. Both are multiple-choice, with one mark per question.
| Paper | Questions | Marks | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Ability Test (MAT) | 90 | 90 | Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, analogy, classification, number series, pattern recognition, critical thinking |
| Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) | 90 | 90 | Science, Social Science and Mathematics from Class VII and VIII syllabus |
| Total | 180 | 180 |
Tip: MAT is where most students gain or lose the scholarship. School studies prepare you for SAT, but reasoning questions need dedicated practice — the more patterns you have seen, the faster you solve them in the exam hall.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹200 |
| SC / ST | ₹180 |
| Differently abled | ₹175 |
Fee exemption: Each government and provincialised school must enrol at least its top 3 eligible students (family income up to ₹3.5 lakh), and the DSE waives their fee based on Class VII marks. In Sixth Schedule areas and BTR, this covers the top 5 students per school. Ask your head teacher whether your child is on the list before paying — fees already paid are not refunded.
How to Apply for Assam NMMS 2026
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal. This is compulsory.
- Open the Assam NMMS application form and read the instructions.
- Choose your district and exam centre, then fill in personal, Aadhaar and school details.
- Enter the correct UDISE code of your current school.
- Upload your photo (JPG, under 35 KB), signature (JPG, under 30 KB) and caste/disability certificate if applicable (JPG, under 100 KB).
- Check everything carefully — the form cannot be edited after submission.
- Log in with your application ID and pay the fee online (unless exempted).
- Download and keep the acknowledgement copy.
Keep ready: NSP OTR details, Aadhaar number, a working mobile number and email ID. For help with the online form, the technical helpline is 7977259728 / 8108014947 (Monday–Saturday, 10 AM–5 PM). Read the official NMMSS guidelines for full details.
Best Book for NMMS Exam 2026 (Class 8)
With less than four weeks to the exam, you need a book that is exam-focused and covers both MAT and SAT. This is the one we recommend to parents in Assam.
NMMSSE Pointer Book for Class VIII (English & Assamese Medium) by Krishna K. Prasad – K.M. Publishing
Publisher: K.M. Publishing, Pan Bazar, Guwahati
Best for: Assamese-medium students, quick revision and last-minute preparation.
This is a concise, exam-oriented guide written for the NMMS Class 8 syllabus by a Guwahati publisher. Its biggest strength is that explanations are given in both English and Assamese, so students who study in Assamese medium can understand every concept comfortably — something most national-level NMMS books don’t offer.
- Dual-medium content: English and Assamese explanations
- Follows the NMMS Class VIII syllabus and exam pattern
- Key pointers and topic highlights for fast learning
- Practice questions on the most important concepts
- Builds speed, accuracy and confidence
Price: ₹320 ₹299
4-Week NMMS Study Plan (2 November – 28 November)
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 (2–8 Nov) | Submit the application first. Then cover MAT basics — series, analogy, classification, coding-decoding. 30–40 reasoning questions a day. |
| Week 2 (9–15 Nov) | SAT: Mathematics and Science from Class VII–VIII. Download the admit card on 12 Nov. Keep 20 MAT questions a day going. |
| Week 3 (16–22 Nov) | SAT: Social Science (History, Geography, Civics). Solve at least 2 full practice papers under timed conditions. |
| Week 4 (23–27 Nov) | Revision only. Go through the pointers, re-solve the questions you got wrong, and practise filling OMR bubbles quickly. |
5 Tips to Score Higher in NMMS
- Practise reasoning daily. MAT rewards pattern familiarity more than memorisation.
- Revise Class VII as well as Class VIII. SAT draws questions from both years.
- Solve full papers on a timer. 90 questions per paper means you must move fast.
- Don’t get stuck. Skip a hard question, mark it, and return after attempting the rest.
- Practise on an OMR sheet. Careless bubbling mistakes cost marks that are easy to save.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for Assam NMMS 2026?
The online application closes on 8 November 2026.
When is the Assam NMMS Exam 2026?
The exam is on 28 November 2026 at 169 centres across Assam. E-admit cards are due on 12 November 2026.
How much is the NMMS scholarship?
Selected students get ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000 per month) from Class IX to Class XII, subject to renewal conditions, paid by Direct Benefit Transfer.
Can I write the NMMS exam in Assamese?
Yes. The exam is available in Assamese, English, Hindi, Bengali and Bodo. For Assamese-medium preparation, the NMMSSE Pointer Book by Krishna K. Prasad (K.M. Publishing) has explanations in both Assamese and English.
Is NSP One-Time Registration compulsory?
Yes. You must complete OTR on the National Scholarship Portal before filling in the Assam NMMS form.
Can private school students get the NMMS scholarship?
Private school, JNV and KV students can appear for the exam, but only government and provincialised school students are considered for the scholarship.
Order Your NMMS Book Today
The exam is just weeks away — every day of practice counts. Order the NMMSSE Pointer Book from Books Jugaad, delivered across Assam. Have a question about it? Call or WhatsApp us at 91016 33046 — we’re happy to help.
Disclaimer: Exam details are based on the DSE Assam notification for NMMSE 2026. Please verify dates and rules on the official website before applying.