Meerut, Uttar Pradesh: The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), under the Ministry of Education, organized a comprehensive Awareness Session on the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) in Meerut, covering various districts in the Meerut Mandal. Chaired by Smt. A. Srija, Economic Advisor at DoSEL, the session aimed at enhancing awareness and streamlining the application and verification processes for the merit-based pre-matric scholarship scheme through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Focus on Uttar Pradesh: Largest Beneficiary of NMMSS
The session targeted officials from Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, and Shamli — all part of Uttar Pradesh, the state with the highest NMMSS quota of 15,000 fresh scholarships annually.
In her welcome address, Smt. A. Srija emphasized the critical role of timely application verification on NSP to ensure eligible students from economically weaker sections (EWS) receive the scholarship intended to support their secondary education from Class IX to XII.
NMMSS: Promoting Merit and Ensuring Equity
Launched as a Central Sector Scheme, NMMSS is designed to reduce dropout rates at the secondary level by offering a scholarship of ₹12,000 per annum to deserving students studying in government and government-aided schools. The scheme excludes students from KVS, NVS, and other government residential schools.
Key features include:
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Selection based on merit via a written exam after Class VIII
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Eligibility limited to students from Class IX onward
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Renewals available in Classes X, XI, and XII
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Mandatory Aadhaar-based One Time Registration (OTR) for applicants via NSP since 2024-25
Training on NSP Registration and Two-Tier Verification
The awareness session included a live demonstration and walkthrough of the NSP registration process, aimed at helping both students and school authorities avoid common application errors.
Officials from DoSEL explained the two-tier verification process:
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First Level: Verification by school-level Nodal Officers (teachers)
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Second Level: District-level verification by District Nodal Officers (DNOs)
Both levels now require biometric authentication using Aadhaar-linked credentials for validation and transparency.
Encouraging Digital Access and Financial Inclusion
The scheme uses Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) to transfer the scholarship directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of either the student or a parent/guardian. This ensures minimal delays and leakages in the disbursal of funds.
The Department emphasized the importance of Aadhaar seeding of bank accounts and biometric authentication for both students and verifiers.
Broader Educational Engagement: Vidyanjali, Tobacco Awareness & Inclusive Learning
Beyond NMMSS, the session also included orientations on:
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Vidyanjali – The School Volunteer Initiative: Encouraging community and CSR participation to enhance school infrastructure and learning environments
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School Challenge via MyGov Portal: Aimed at spreading awareness about the dangers of tobacco consumption
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Universal Design of Learning (UDL) Textbooks: Being developed by NCERT to ensure inclusive and accessible learning for students with diverse needs
Strong Participation and Institutional Representation
The session saw enthusiastic participation from 210 attendees across the Meerut Mandal, including District Nodal Officers, headteachers, and educators. Key officials from the Department of School Education and Literacy included:
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Ms. Sreekala P Venugopal, Director, DoSEL
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Ms. Hema Malini, Under Secretary
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Mr. Ram Singh, Deputy Director
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Prof. Bharti Kaushik, CIET, NCERT
Their presence ensured comprehensive guidance on policy updates and operational procedures for participants.
Conclusion: Empowering Education Through Effective Implementation
The awareness session in Meerut demonstrated the Centre’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to education for students from economically weaker sections. Through schemes like NMMSS and platforms like the National Scholarship Portal, the government aims to bridge socio-economic gaps in education and foster a more inclusive academic ecosystem. With improved verification, Aadhaar-linked transparency, and community involvement, the NMMSS is poised to support thousands of meritorious students in their journey toward academic success.
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