The NMMS Scheme is a new Scheme implemented from 2008-2009 as directed by the government of India. It is under the Department of School and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource and Department (MHRD), Government of India.

The NMMS Examination is being conducted through a common examination on a Saturday of November every year for the students who are currently reading in class VIII from any recognised school in the state. (Students studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya, JNV and Residential schools run by the State and Central Government are not entitled).

The Parental Income from all sources should not exceed Rs. 1,50,000/-(Rupees One Lakh Fifty Thousand) only. (Certificate has to be submitted alongwith the application form).

The objective of this scheme is to provide scholarships to meritorious students belonging to the economically weaker sections for continuing studies from Class IX till XII, by selecting them through the NMMS examination. The awarding of scholarship is aimed to discourage students from dropping out of school at the Secondary stage.

The NMMS Quota as per MHRD is 231 students who can be benefited from the Scheme.

Process of conducting NMMS Examination

• Advertisement is given in the Local Newspaper in the last week of July every year (English, Khasi and Garo) regarding the examination.
• The SDSEO’s of the state are responsible for popularising and enrol the candidates to appear for the exam.
• DERT act as a Nodal Agency in conducting of the examination and SDSEO conducts the examination at the respective Districts.
• Only those Candidates who scored 55% (50% for ST/SC) marks in Class VII promotion examination are eligible to appear the NMMS Exam.

Procedure for Selection

• The Examination is conducted by DERT through SDSEO’s in the month of November every year in all the District Head-Quarter for selection of students.
• The result is declared in the month of December-January. The names of Candidates who qualified for this examination will be sent to MHRD for the award of Scholarship.
• Reservation- 15% for students belonging to SC category, 7.5% for students belonging to ST category and 3% for Physically Challenged Group of students.
• Qualifying marks for the candidates from General Category is 40% in each paper and for Candidates from SC, ST, PH is 32% in each paper.

Scholarship

• Scholarship will be awarded from Class IX till Class XII @ Rs. 500/- per month.

The Examination consist of the following two tests

1. Mental Ability Test: This consist 90 multiple-choice question testing verbal and non-verbal meta-cognitive abilities like reasoning and critical thinking. The questions in the test may be on analogy, classification, numerical series, pattern perceptions, hidden figures, etc.
2. Scholastic Aptitude Test: This consist of 90 multiple-choice questions covering subjects, namely Science, Social Studies & Mathematics as taught in Class VII & VIII.

Performance of the Class VIII Students of Meghalaya at the National Means Cum Merit Sscholarship Examination since 2008-2009

Year	No. Appeared	No. selected for receiving NMMS Scholarship
2008-2009 Conducted in August 2008 as special case for Class IX students	340	113
2008-2009 Conducted in November 2008 for Class VIII students	651	121
2009-2010 Conducted in November 2010 for Class VIII students	426	124
2011-2012 Conducted in November 2011 for Class VIII students	299	104
2012-2013 Conducted in November 2012 for Class VIII students	347	46
2013-2014 Conducted in November 2013 for Class VIII students	174	61
2014-2015 Conducted in 1st November 2014 for Class VIII students	239	113
2015-2016 Conducted on 7rh November, 2015 for Class VIII students	615	184