Vijay Garg
Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India has launched a centrally sponsored National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS). Under this scheme scholarship will be awarded to 1,00,000 students (at National level) selected at the end of class VIII. The scholarship will start from Class IX and would continue till Class XII at the rate of Rs 12000/- per annum. The objective of the scheme is to award scholarship to meritorious students belonging to economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at Class VIII and to encourage them to continue their studies till Class XII.
The students for the award of this scholarship will be selected through the State Level Test conducted by State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), for the class VIII students.
Scholarships: On the basis of the examination, 2200(Approx.) scholarships will be awarded to the students of States, who are appearing in Class VIII examination.
Reservation: As per State norms including 4% reservation for Physically Challenged Group of Students.
Selection: There will be one stage selection process for award of scholarship. The selection will be done by SCERT through a written examination.
Important Dates: Dates for Submission of Application Form and conduct of examination are given below:
Last Date for Submission of Application Form in SCERT, – October, or November 2020
Date of Examination for Punjab – November, 2020 or January 2021
Eligibility to appear in the examination :
Students studying in 8th Class in Government, Local body and Private aided Schools are eligible for this Scheme.
The students shall have minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class VII examination for appearing in selection test for award of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students). The students should be studying as regular student in a Government, Government-aided and local body schools.
Parental income from all sources should not exceed than Rs. 1, 50,000/- per annum. Parental Income Certificate issued by Govt. Employer in case if the parents are Govt. Employees and affidavit attested from Magistrate/Notary in case the parents are in any private service / job has to be attached with the form.
Examination: The State Level test will consist of two papers i.e. Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Each paper will have 90 questions and carry one mark. SAT paper will include Science, Social Sciences and Mathematics of classes VII and VIII level
Merit List: The students must pass both the papers i.e. MAT and SAT with at least 40% marks in aggregate taken together for these two papers. For the SC/ST students, this cut off will be 32% marks.
State Quota: Punjab has been allotted a quota of 2200(Approx.) seats for scholarship. The division of seats will be done according to reservation policy of Punjab.
How to crack National Mean cum Merit Scholarship Exam
Every exam has its own strategy to select the best students, so it becomes all the more important that a student must under this strategy and perform accordingly. The below points will help a student give his/her best performance on the NMMS Exam day.
Synchronise your class 8th preparation with NMMS Syllabus
Before coming into a preparation mode for NMMS, you must have clarity about the NMMS syllabus and you should sync it with your 8th standard studies. This ensures that your NMMS preparation moves according to what the exam demands and you do not have to put extra effort for NMMS preparation. Your efforts will be in the right direction.
Know your Strengths and Weaknesses
Before beginning preparation for NMMS Stage I exam, the candidates must know about their existing level of preparedness for the NMMS exam. For this the candidates need to check the last years’ NMMS papers, and they can evaluate where they stand. Simultaneously, they can analyze their strengths and weaknesses based on their existing preparedness and the required NMMS preparation. This will help the candidates decide how much weightage they have to give to various sections under the limited time frame they have for NMMS preparation. Candidates can then utilize their strength and make a strategy to improve their weaknesses during the NMMS preparation.
Study Material
When you think of preparing for an exam like NMMS, it is better to have clear concepts and build the right exam temperament. It is important to have proper training to appear for NMMS as merely solving NCERT Problems may not help. A systematic approach and proper guidance is necessary to clear the two stages of NMNS Exam. Having clarity of concepts and improving your problem solving ability will help you ace NMMS
Regular practice
You may have prepared very well for NMNS however, it is important that you do regular practice and revision of topics. Also, if one is regular at revising and practicing the chapters you develop a good command on your speed and accuracy while solving NMMS questions. With clear concepts and time management, you ensure a significant rank on NMMS merit list.
Solving previous year papers
To evaluate the level of your preparation, it is important to solve more and more previous year NMMS test papers. You will be able to identify areas you are weak and work out your preparation plan for improving upon them. In the last two weeks of your preparation, you should put special emphasis on previous year papers to give your best efforts in the remaining time-frame before NMMS exam. While solving a set of old test papers, you get accustomed to the type of questions asked in NMMS. You need not worry about any kind of surprise element during the exam.
Take good sleep
It is important to have a seven-to-eight-hour sleep a night before the NMMS exam day. Going early to bed in the night prior to the exam day and getting up early in the morning on the NMMS exam day will help relax your mind and body, and you will enter the exam hall with full of energy.
Instructions:
Candidates are advised to follow these important instructions alongside do’s and don’ts at NMMS
Exam Day:
*Candidates should reach the test centre 45 minutes before the test commences.
*Candidates, who reach more than 15 minutes after the scheduled test time, may not be allowed to take the test.
*Candidates are required to bring admit card, photo identity and ball pen to the exam centre.
*Any type of gadget, watch and calculators are not allowed inside the exam centre.
*Attempt all questions as there is no negative marking.
*Maintain speed and try to attempt all questions.
The author is Rtd. Principal Govt. Girls Sr. Sec, School (MHR) Malout
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