353 students receiving National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship in Salem district: Collector - The HinduPublished - November 03, 2026 06:46 pm ISTSalem District Collector K. Elambahavath distributed books to the NMMS incharge teachers in Salem on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Special ArrangementDistrict Collector K. Elambahavath said a total of 353 students are receiving scholarships under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) in Salem in the 2025-26 academic year.With an aim at ensuring that a large number of students pass the NMMS examination in Salem district and receive scholarships, a training programme for the teachers in charge of the scheme and the distribution of training books was held on Tuesday.Presiding over the function, the Collector said the event included identifying deserving students, creating awareness among students and parents, and providing systematic training in the areas of the Mental Aptitude Test (MAT) and Subject Aptitude Test (SAT). The teachers in charge were trained on proper use of textbooks and monitoring the progress of students. The NMMS scheme is an important resource to ensure that financial constraints do not interfere with the educational journey of students.Stating that in Tamil Nadu, scholarships were provided for 6,695 students under the NMMS scheme every year, the Collector said the selected students are provided with ₹1,000 per month from class 9 to class 12. In Salem district, 353 students have qualified under this scheme in the academic year 2025-26 and are being given scholarships. The NMMS examination for 2026-27 is scheduled to be held on December 12, 2026. To date, 5,231 students have applied for this examination. The deadline for applying for this examination has been extended till November 13, 2026.“It serves as the first step towards appearing in competitive examinations in the future. The marks obtained in the NMMS exam are an important qualification for admission to model schools and also provide an opportunity to reach higher education institutions like IITs and IIMs. Therefore, all students should apply for the exam,” Mr. Elambahavath said.Chief Educational Officer A. Ellappan and officials were present.Published - November 03, 2026 06:46 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }