NMMS Maharashtra 2026-27: Exam Date, Eligibility, Apply Online, Syllabus & Result
Last updated 31 October 2026. Checked against MSCE Pune notices and news reports. Always confirm final details on mscepune.in.
Quick answer: The NMMS Maharashtra 2026-27 exam is on Sunday, 20 December 2026, conducted by MSCE Pune for Class 8 students of government, government-aided and local-body schools. Parentsโ income must be โน3.5 lakh or less, with at least 55% in Class 7 (50% for SC/ST). Selected students get โน1,000 a month (โน12,000 a year) from Class 9 to 12.
NMMS Maharashtra 2026-27 important dates
MSCE Pune runs one exam a year for the whole state. The timeline below shows where the 2026-27 cycle stands today.
- 8 September 2026: applications openedForms are filled through the school on the MSCE NMMS portal.
- 14 October 2026: last date without late feeExtended from 7 October 2026, per news reports of the MSCE notice.
- Late-fee window: confirm with your schoolMSCE has changed late-fee rules between years. Check the latest circular on mscepune.in before assuming the window is closed or open.
- December 2026: admit cardDownloaded by the school login. Tentative.
- 20 December 2026: exam dayMAT in the morning, SAT in the afternoon. Reporting time is printed on the admit card.
- January 2027: provisional and final answer keyTentative, based on previous cycles.
- February 2027: result and merit listTentative. Last yearโs result also came in February.
Last cycle (2025-26) for comparison
| Stage | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | 12 Sep to 21 Oct 2025 | 8 Sep to 14 Oct 2026 |
| Exam | 28 December 2025 | 20 December 2026 |
| Result | February 2026 (reported pass rate 89.79%) | Expected February 2027 |
The exam is moving about a week earlier this year, so the answer key and result may also arrive earlier.
Who is eligible for NMMS Maharashtra?
A student must meet every condition below. Missing even one means the form is rejected at verification.
Eligible
- Studying in Class 8 in 2026-27 as a regular student
- School is government, government-aided or local body (Zilla Parishad, municipal)
- Class 7 marks: 55% for General/OBC/EWS, 50% for SC/ST
- Parentsโ combined income โน3,50,000 or less a year
- Valid income certificate from the competent authority
Not eligible
- Private or self-financed school students
- Kendriya Vidyalaya and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya students
- Sainik school students
- Students in residential schools with free boarding, lodging and tuition
Grace marks: the 5% relaxation in Class 7 marks applies to SC/ST only. Disability relaxation, where applicable, is stated in the MSCE information booklet, so ask your school to check it.
Check your eligibility in 20 seconds
This is a guide only. MSCE verification of your documents is final.
How to apply for NMMS Maharashtra 2026-27
Students do not usually apply alone. The head of the school logs in on the MSCE NMMS portal and fills each eligible studentโs form. If your school has not done it, talk to your class teacher or headmaster first.
- Collect the documents listed below and give them to the school.
- The school opens mscepune.in or mscenmms.in and selects the NMMS 2026-27 link.
- Enter student, school (U-DISE), caste, income and medium details.
- Upload photo, signature and certificates as clear scans.
- Choose the question paper medium: Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, English, Telugu, Kannada or Sindhi.
- Pay the exam fee online. The amount is set in the MSCE circular, so confirm it with your school. Fees are not refunded.
- Print the application and receipt, and keep both until the result.
Documents needed
- Passport photo and signature
- Class 7 marksheet
- Income certificate (Tahsildar, Talati or other competent authority). It must show income for the year the circular names.
- Caste certificate for SC/ST/OBC where applicable
- Disability certificate, if applicable
- School U-DISE code, mobile number and email
- Aadhaar and a bank account in the studentโs name. You need these later for scholarship payment. See how to link Aadhaar with your bank account.
Income certificate tip: an income certificate older than the period the circular asks for is the most common cause of rejection. Get a fresh one before the next cycle, not on the last day.
NMMS Maharashtra exam pattern
Both papers are held on the same day. All questions are multiple choice, and there is no negative marking.
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Ability Test (MAT) | 90 | 90 | 90 min, about 10:30 am to 12:00 pm |
| Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) | 90 | 90 | 90 min, about 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm |
| Total | 180 | 180 | Visually impaired students get 30 extra minutes |
SAT marks split
| Subject | Marks | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| General Science | 35 | Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
| Social Science | 35 | History, Geography, Civics |
| Mathematics | 20 | Class 7 and 8 topics |
Timings above follow earlier MSCE booklets. Your admit card is the final word.
NMMS Maharashtra syllabus
MAT: reasoning, no textbook needed
Analogy, classification, number and letter series, coding-decoding, pattern completion, hidden figures, mirror and water images, blood relations, directions, and simple counting of figures.
SAT: Class 7 and Class 8 Maharashtra State Board
Science
- Heat, light, sound, motion, force, pressure
- Acids, bases, metals, non-metals, materials
- Cells, plants, animals, human body, nutrition
Social Science
- History: Mughal to Maratha period, British rule, 1857, freedom movement
- Geography: Earth, climate, resources, India and Maharashtra
- Civics: Constitution, rights, local government
Mathematics
- Integers, fractions, ratio, percentage, profit and loss
- Algebra basics, simple equations
- Geometry, mensuration, data handling
Tip
Questions test understanding, not memory. Read the state textbooks first, then solve past papers.
How to prepare in the 7 weeks left
Since there is no negative marking, never leave a question blank. Eliminate two options and guess.
Selection process and cut-off
To qualify, a student must appear in both papers and score at least 40% in total (General/OBC/EWS) or 32% (SC/ST and PH). Qualifying is not enough: scholarships go to the top scorers within Maharashtraโs quota of 11,682, prepared as district-wise and category-wise merit lists.
No fixed cut-off exists. The cut-off changes every year and by district and category. Treat any โexpected cut-offโ number on social media as a guess, and aim well above the 40% qualifying mark.
NMMS Maharashtra answer key and result
- Answer key: MSCE publishes a provisional key in January with a window to object, then a final key.
- Result: shown on mscepune.in and mscenmms.in. A marksheet link and the selected-student list follow.
- After selection: the school verifies the student, and the student registers on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Keep your roll number and application number ready, because the result page asks for them.
Scholarship amount, payment and renewal
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amount | โน1,000 a month, โน12,000 a year |
| Duration | Class 9 to 12, maximum 4 years |
| Payment | Direct Benefit Transfer to the studentโs Aadhaar-seeded bank account via NSP |
| Scheme | Central Sector Scheme, Ministry of Education, since 2008; 1,00,000 scholarships a year across India |
Renewal rules
- Clear promotion every year, as a regular student in a government, aided or local-body school
- Minimum marks in the previous class, with a higher bar for Class 10 (60%, or 55% for SC/ST). Check the exact percentage for each class on NSP, as it is updated by the Ministry.
- Renew on NSP every year within the deadline
- A gap of one academic year ends the scholarship permanently
Once a student finishes Class 12, look at MahaDBT scholarships for higher education in Maharashtra.
NMMS vs the Maharashtra Class 8 scholarship exam
Many families confuse these two. They are separate exams.
| NMMS | MSCE Class 8 scholarship (PSS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Centre (MoE), exam by MSCE Pune | Maharashtra, MSCE Pune |
| Timing | December | February |
| Income limit | โน3.5 lakh | No NMMS-style limit |
| School type | Government, aided, local body only | Open to more school types |
A student may sit both exams. Check the MSCE brochure for the current rules.
NMMS in other states
NMMS GujaratQuota 5,097
NMMS Goa
NMMS Andhra Pradesh
NMMS Mizoram
NMMS Manipur
NMMS hubUpdates and guides
Latest scholarships
NMMS Maharashtra FAQs
What is the NMMS exam date 2026 in Maharashtra?
The NMMS Maharashtra 2026-27 exam is on Sunday, 20 December 2026. The 2025-26 exam was held on 28 December 2025.
What is the last date to apply for NMMS Maharashtra 2026-27?
The last date without late fee was extended to 14 October 2026. Ask your school or check mscepune.in for any late-fee window.
How do I apply for NMMS in Maharashtra?
Your school head fills the online form on mscepune.in or mscenmms.in, uploads your documents and pays the fee. Keep a printout of the form and receipt.
Who is eligible for NMMS Maharashtra?
Class 8 students of government, aided or local-body schools with 55% in Class 7 (50% for SC/ST) and parental income up to โน3.5 lakh a year.
How much scholarship does NMMS Maharashtra give?
Selected students get โน1,000 a month, which is โน12,000 a year, from Class 9 to Class 12 through DBT, subject to renewal rules.
How many scholarships are there for Maharashtra?
Maharashtraโs quota is 11,682 scholarships a year.
Is there negative marking in NMMS?
No. The Maharashtra NMMS paper has no negative marking, so attempt every question.
What is the NMMS exam pattern?
Two papers, MAT and SAT, each with 90 multiple-choice questions for 90 marks, making 180 marks in total.
What are the qualifying marks in NMMS Maharashtra?
40% in total for General, OBC and EWS students, and 32% for SC, ST and PH students.
When will the NMMS Maharashtra answer key and result come?
The answer key usually comes in January and the result in February. Dates for 2027 are tentative until MSCE announces them.
Can private school students apply for NMMS Maharashtra?
No. Private and self-financed school students, and students of KV, JNV, Sainik schools and free residential schools, are not eligible.
What is the official website for NMMS Maharashtra?
MSCE Pune: mscepune.in and mscenmms.in.