Kerala NMMS 2026-27 (National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Examination) is conducted by Commissioner for Government Examinations (Pareeksha Bhavan) for students of Class 8. The exam is on 7 November 2026. Registration closed on 5 October 2026. It is also called NMMSE Kerala.
Kerala NMMS 2026-27
This page covers Kerala NMMS 2026-27 dates, how to apply, eligibility, the exam pattern, awards and official links.
| Full name | National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Examination |
| Conducted by | Commissioner for Government Examinations (Pareeksha Bhavan) |
| Class | 8 |
| Mode | Offline (pen-paper, OMR-based multiple-choice) at exam centres |
| Duration | MAT 90 minutes + SAT 90 minutes (30 minutes extra per paper for differently-abled students) |
| Language | English, Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada (choose the question-paper language in the online application) |
| Fee | No application fee |
| Official website | nmmse.kerala.gov.in |
Kerala NMMS 2026-27 Quick Links
Kerala NMMS 2026-27 Important Dates
Commissioner for Government Examinations (Pareeksha Bhavan) has confirmed the Kerala NMMS 2026-27 exam dates. The answer key and result dates are to be announced. Dates were checked on 7 November 2026 against nmmse.kerala.gov.in.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration (individual / online) | 15 September to 5 October 2026 (closed) |
| Admit card | Published (candidate login on nmmse.kerala.gov.in) |
| Exam date | 7 November 2026 |
| Answer key | To be announced (last year: 11 February 2026) |
| Result | To be announced (last year: 26 May 2026) |
How to Apply for Kerala NMMS 2026-27
Online application 15 Sep – 30 Sep 2026, extended to 5 Oct 2026 (5 PM); HM verification till 7 Oct 2026. The fee is no application fee.
Is the Kerala NMMS 2026-27 application form out?
The application window has closed. Online application 15 Sep - 30 Sep 2026, extended to 5 Oct 2026 (5 PM); HM verification till 7 Oct 2026.
- Registration (individual / online)
- 15 September to 5 October 2026 (closed)
- Exam date
- 7 November 2026
Steps to Apply for Kerala NMMS 2026-27
- Register on nmmse.kerala.gov.in (Candidate Login > New Registration) with name and date of birth exactly as in the school admission register, e-mail ID and mobile number.
- Log in and fill the online application in five stages: basic details, photo (passport size, 150×200 pixels, 20-30 KB, jpg), family details including annual income, documents, and preview and confirmation.
- Upload the village-office income certificate (pdf, under 100 KB), caste certificate for SC/ST, and the medical board certificate for disability (40% or more) where applicable; choose the question-paper language.
- After final confirmation no corrections are possible; print the application and submit the printout and documents to your school headmaster for verification (no hard copy to Pareeksha Bhavan).
- The student can apply on their own or through the school (2026-27: 15 September to 30 September 2026, extended to 5 October 2026).
Who can apply for Kerala NMMS 2026-27?
Class VIII in 2026-27 in Govt/Aided schools under Govt of Kerala (not residential/special schools, KV, JNV); 55% (SC/ST 50%) in Class VII annual exam 2025-26; parental income up to Rs 3,50,000.
Qualifying and selection: Minimum 40% aggregate in MAT + SAT together (32% for SC/ST). Eligibility: Class 8 regular student of a Kerala government or aided school (residential schools, KV and JNV excluded), at least 55% in the Class 7 annual exam (50% for SC/ST; grades converted to percentage), and parents’ annual income not more than Rs 3,50,000. Kerala’s quota is 3,473 scholarships, divided into district quotas (2/3 by Class 7-8 enrolment, 1/3 by child population aged 10-14); within each district reservation is SC 15%, ST 7.5%, disabled 4%. Ties are broken by higher MAT score, then SAT Science, SAT Maths and SAT Social Science.
What is the Kerala NMMS exam pattern?
Kerala NMMS has multiple-choice questions and lasts MAT 90 minutes + SAT 90 minutes. Mode: offline (pen-paper, OMR-based multiple-choice) at exam centres. There is no negative marking. The number of questions and marks depend on the class:
| Class | Questions | Marks | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 – Part I: Mental Ability Test (MAT) | 90 | 90 | Reasoning MCQs: analogy, classification, number series, pattern recognition, hidden figures |
| 8 – Part II: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) | 90 | 90 | Social Science 35, Basic Science 35, Mathematics 20 (Class 7 and 8 non-language subjects) |
SAT covers the Class 7 and Class 8 non-language subjects (Social Science, Basic Science, Mathematics) with some higher-order questions; MAT is a reasoning test
How much is the Kerala NMMS scholarship?
Rs 12,000 a year from Class 9 to Class 12, applied for through the National Scholarship Portal (fresh in Class 9, then renewal each year). To continue, the student needs at least 60% in the Class 10 public exam (55% for SC/ST) and a clear first-attempt promotion from Class 9 to 10 and Class 11 to 12, as per the revised national NMMSS guidelines and must keep studying in a government or aided school.
Kerala NMMS 2026-27 Official Notices and Links
Every date on this page comes from these official pages (30 October 2026):
- nmmse.kerala.gov.in/index.php/notifications – Registration (individual / online)
- nmmse.kerala.gov.in/ – Registration (individual / online)
- nmmse.kerala.gov.in/assets/downloads/nmms2026/NMMSE-Notification-2026-27.pdf – Exam date
- nmmse.kerala.gov.in/index.php/results – Result
Kerala NMMS 2026-27 FAQs
When is the Kerala NMMS 2026-27 exam?
Exam on 7 Nov 2026: MAT 10:00-11:30 AM, SAT 1:30-3:00 PM.
Is Kerala NMMS 2026-27 registration open?
Online application 15 Sep – 30 Sep 2026, extended to 5 Oct 2026 (5 PM); HM verification till 7 Oct 2026.
Who is eligible for Kerala NMMS?
Class VIII in 2026-27 in Govt/Aided schools under Govt of Kerala (not residential/special schools, KV, JNV); 55% (SC/ST 50%) in Class VII annual exam 2025-26; parental income up to Rs 3,50,000.
How many questions are there in Kerala NMMS?
Class 8 – Part I: Mental Ability Test (MAT): 90 questions, 90 marks; Class 8 – Part II: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): 90 questions, 90 marks – MAT 90 minutes + SAT 90 minutes (30 minutes extra per paper for differently-abled students).
What is the Kerala NMMS fee?
No application fee.
What is the official website of Kerala NMMS?
nmmse.kerala.gov.in