What is this Scheme?
The Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (MCM) is a scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA), Government of India, that gives financial assistance to poor and meritorious students from minority communities to pursue professional and technical courses — such as B.Tech, MBBS, MBA, MCA, B.Pharma, LLB, B.Arch, Nursing and similar courses. It is a Central Sector Scheme — the Central Government bears 100% of its cost. In Haryana it is implemented through the Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of SC & BC and Antyodaya Department (SEWA).
This is the highest tier of the Ministry’s three scholarships for minority students — Pre-Matric (Classes 9–10), Post-Matric (Class 11 to PhD) and Merit-cum-Means (professional/technical courses). Because professional courses are expensive, this scheme offers a course fee reimbursement (up to ₹20,000 per year) along with a monthly maintenance allowance — a hosteller can get up to ₹30,000 per year in total and a day scholar up to ₹25,000 per year.
2026-27 status — honest information (checked 8 November 2026): This scheme is not visible yet on the live scheme list of the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) — the list shows 31 schemes, but none of the Ministry’s three schemes (Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, Merit-cum-Means) is among them. An independent check on 31 October 2026 found the same. Some websites quote “30 November 2026 (Expected)” as the last date, but that is only an estimate — it does not match the live NSP list. So no last date is given in this article — before applying, check the “Schemes on NSP” list on scholarships.gov.in yourself to see whether the scheme is open. The scheme’s rules, benefits and eligibility are given below in full, so you are ready the moment the window opens.
Scheme at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Merit-cum-Means Based Scholarship for Students Belonging to the Minority Communities |
| Whose scheme | Central Government — Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA); Central Sector Scheme, 100% central funding |
| Implemented in Haryana by | Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of SC & BC and Antyodaya Department (SEWA) |
| For whom | Students of the 6 notified minority communities — professional/technical courses at UG and PG level |
| Benefit | Course fee up to ₹20,000 per year + maintenance allowance ₹10,000 (hosteller) / ₹5,000 (day scholar) per year — total maximum ₹30,000 / ₹25,000 per year |
| Listed institutes | Full course fee (no ₹20,000 cap) + allowance at 85 listed premier institutes |
| Income limit | Parents’/guardians’ annual income not more than ₹2.50 lakh (from all sources) |
| Marks | At least 50% marks in the previous final examination |
| Number of scholarships | 60,000 fresh scholarships every year across India (renewals separate); 30% reserved for girls |
| Apply where | NSP only (scholarships.gov.in), online; OTR mandatory |
| Last date (2026-27) | Not confirmed — the scheme is not visible on NSP’s live list yet (see below); no date is given |
| Fee | Application is free; CSC service charge of ₹30 may apply |
How Much Scholarship is Given
The scholarship has two parts — course fee reimbursement and maintenance allowance. Both are paid directly into the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account through DBT.
| Component | Hosteller | Day scholar |
|---|---|---|
| Course fee (admission + tuition fee) | Up to ₹20,000 per year (actual fee or ₹20,000, whichever is less) | Up to ₹20,000 per year (actual fee or ₹20,000, whichever is less) |
| Maintenance allowance | ₹1,000 per month × 10 months = ₹10,000 per year | ₹500 per month × 10 months = ₹5,000 per year |
| Total maximum (per year) | ₹30,000 | ₹25,000 |
85 listed premier institutes: The Ministry has listed 85 reputed premier institutes — students studying in them get their full course fee reimbursed, with no ₹20,000 cap. The maintenance allowance is paid separately as above. The list of institutes is in Appendix-C of the scheme guidelines — check the NSP scheme page before applying to see whether your institute is on the list.
Please note: The maintenance allowance is paid as a fixed lump sum for the academic year — ₹10,000 for hostellers and ₹5,000 for day scholars. No scholarship is paid for the MBBS internship/housemanship period if the student receives any remuneration during it.
Who is Eligible — Eligibility Conditions
As per the official guidelines, the eligibility conditions are:
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community | Student must belong to one of the 6 notified minority communities — Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi (Zoroastrian) |
| Course | Professional/technical course at undergraduate or postgraduate level — such as B.Tech, MBBS, BDS, BAMS, B.Pharma, MBA, MCA, LLB, B.Arch, Nursing, Hotel Management etc. (course list in Appendix-E of the guidelines) |
| Institute | A recognised Government or private institution in India, selected and notified in a transparent manner by the State Government/UT Administration concerned |
| Marks | At least 50% marks or equivalent grade in the previous final examination |
| Income limit | Parents’/guardians’ annual income from all sources not more than ₹2.50 lakh |
| Admission | Students admitted on the basis of a competitive examination are eligible; students admitted without a competitive examination are ALSO eligible (for fresh scholarship — 50% marks in the last qualifying exam at higher secondary/graduation level required; selection strictly on merit) |
| Domicile | A student is entitled to the scholarship under the quota of the State/UT where he/she resides, irrespective of the place of study |
Reservation for girls: 30% of the scholarships in each State/UT are earmarked for girl students of each minority community. If female students of a community are not available, the quota can be transferred to male students of the same community — 30% is the floor, not the ceiling.
Maximum two students per family: Scholarship will not be given to more than two students from a family, taking all three MOMA schemes (Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, Merit-cum-Means) together.
Only one Central scholarship: A student is eligible for only one scholarship out of all the available scholarships of the Central Government meant for SC/ST/OBC/minority — and cannot take benefits under any other scheme for the same purpose.
Who is Not Eligible
- Students who do not belong to any of the 6 notified minority communities.
- Students who scored less than 50% marks in the previous final examination.
- Students whose parents’/guardians’ annual income is more than ₹2.50 lakh.
- Students pursuing general (non-professional) courses such as ordinary BA, BSc or BCom (for them, the Post-Matric Minority Scholarship applies — see below).
- Students already receiving another Central Government scholarship (SC/ST/OBC/minority).
- Students who have started receiving remuneration during MBBS internship/housemanship — no scholarship for that period.
- Students who are not regular in attendance or who violate institute discipline — the scholarship can be cancelled or withheld.
How This Scheme Differs From Other Schemes
Many scholarships run in Haryana with similar-sounding names, but each is different. This table clarifies which scheme this guide is about:
| Point | This scheme — Merit-cum-Means (Minority) | Post-Matric Minority Scholarship | PM-YASASVI (OBC/EBC/DNT) | Lower Income Group Scholarship | State Meritorious Incentive Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For whom | Minority students — professional/technical UG/PG | Minority students — Class 11 to PhD (all courses) | OBC/EBC/DNT students — Class 11 to PG | Any caste — income up to ₹12,000 | Govt college toppers — general courses |
| Income limit | ₹2.5 lakh/year | ₹2 lakh/year | ₹2.5 lakh/year | ₹12,000/year | No income limit |
| Marks condition | 50% required | 50% required | No minimum marks (75% attendance) | No marks condition | Top-3 in college (merit) |
| Amount (per year) | Maximum ₹30,000 (hosteller) / ₹25,000 (day scholar) | Maximum ₹15,000 | ₹5,000–₹20,000 by group | ₹324–₹900 + full fees | ₹2,000–₹5,000 |
| Apply where | NSP | NSP | NSP | Har-Chhatravratti portal | Har-Chhatravratti portal |
| Our guide | This article | Posts 7300/7308 | Posts 7277/7284 | Posts 7324/7333 | Post 7388 (being published) |
Also read: Minority Post-Matric Scholarship — up to ₹15,000 per year | PM-YASASVI Post-Matric Scholarship (OBC/EBC/DNT) — up to ₹20,000 per year | Lower Income Group Scholarship — no caste condition | SC Tuition Fee & Transport Reimbursement — up to ₹40,000 | SC/BC Competitive Exam Coaching Assistance — Free UPSC/IAS Coaching
Note — the “₹2 lakh income limit” confusion: Several older articles quote the Merit-cum-Means income limit as ₹2 lakh — that is the Post-Matric Minority scheme’s limit. This scheme’s (Merit-cum-Means) limit is ₹2.5 lakh as per the official guidelines. Do not confuse the two.
Documents Required
As per the official guidelines and the NSP application form, these documents are needed:
| Document | Detail / Note |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar card | Identity proof — providing the Aadhaar number is mandatory while applying (Gazette Notification No. 1137, dated 21.04.2017); the bank account must be Aadhaar-seeded |
| Income certificate | Most important document — issued by the Competent Authority of the State/UT Government (Tehsildar/SDM); family annual income not more than ₹2.5 lakh |
| Community certificate | Self-certified by the student who has attained 18 years of age; for others, certified by the parent/guardian |
| Previous exam marksheet | To prove 50% marks — marksheet/certificate of the previous final examination |
| Admission proof | Proof of admission through competitive examination (rank/allotment letter) or merit admission proof; institute bonafide certificate |
| Fee receipt | Fee receipt from the institute, for the course fee reimbursement |
| Bank account details | Bank account in the student’s name, Aadhaar-seeded — enter the account number and IFSC code correctly; KYC must be complete |
| Passport-size photograph | Recent photograph of the applicant |
| Domicile certificate | Haryana domicile certificate (usually asked for) |
If the bank details entered are found incorrect, the scholarship will be cancelled or the amount will not be transferred — get the account number and IFSC code verified by your bank branch. The account must stay active till the scholarship is disbursed.
How to Apply
Applications under this scheme are made only on NSP (scholarships.gov.in), online — there is no offline form. The application has two stages: first One Time Registration (OTR), then the scholarship form.
Step 1 — Complete OTR (One Time Registration)
- Open NSP: Go to scholarships.gov.in and click “Apply for One Time Registration (OTR)”.
- Mobile OTP: Enter your mobile number and verify it with the OTP.
- Aadhaar e-KYC: Enter your Aadhaar number — face authentication is done through the NSP OTR app. For this, biometrics must be unlocked in Aadhaar.
- Get your OTR number: After registration you will get an OTR number — keep it safe; the same number is used for applications every year.
Step 2 — Apply for the Scholarship
- Login: Login on NSP with your OTR number and password.
- Select the scheme: Choose “Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses” (MOMA) — remember, the Post-Matric Minority scheme is different; do not select it.
- Fill the form: Enter personal details, community, income, course and institute details, and bank account details.
- Upload documents: Upload scanned copies of the documents listed above.
- Submit: Submit the form and note down the Application/Reference ID — this is used to check the status.
- Institute verification: Your institute (college) will verify the application, followed by district and state-level verification.
Note: The application is free — there is no fee on NSP. A CSC service charge of ₹30 may apply if you get the form filled at a CSC centre (as per NSP) — always take a receipt. Anyone asking for money in the name of this scheme may be a fraud.
Renewal of Scholarship
Once awarded, the scholarship can be renewed in the next academic year of the same course:
- 50% marks required: The student must have secured 50% marks in the previous year’s examination (in each semester/trimester of the previous year) — only then is renewal given.
- No merit list: There is no merit list generation for renewal cases — if the 50% condition is met, the scholarship continues with the State Government’s approval.
- Same course, same institute: Migration from one institute to another is not allowed for renewal applicants during the course.
- Fresh income certificate: A fresh income certificate must be submitted every year.
- Less than 50% marks: If the student fails to secure 50% marks in the previous annual examination, the scholarship will be discontinued.
Application Timeline and 2026-27 Status
| Session / Event | Status |
|---|---|
| Announcement of scheme | The State Government/UT Administration must advertise the scheme every year latest by 31st March (guidelines) |
| NSP portal opening | NSP has been open since 1 June 2026 for 2026-27 (for other schemes) |
| 2026-27 — Merit-cum-Means | Scheme NOT visible on NSP’s live list (checked 8 November 2026) — no opening date and no last date has been published for it |
| Other NSP schemes | Most NSP 2026-27 student application windows closed on 31 October 2026; institute verification till 15 November and L2 verification till 30 November 2026 |
As per the guidelines, the State Government must advertise the scheme by 31 March every year, but for 2026-27 this scheme has not appeared on NSP’s list. The window may open later — keep an eye on NSP’s “Schemes on NSP” list and the MOMA website. Do not trust any date quoted by any website — NSP’s own list is final.
How to Check Status
- On NSP: Login at scholarships.gov.in and check “Application Status” / “Track Your Payment” for the application and payment status.
- Through PFMS: The PFMS “Know Your Payment” service shows the amount credited to your bank account.
- Through the institute: Ask your college’s nodal officer whether the application has been verified.
- Through the Haryana nodal office: Contact the SEWA Department, Haryana (helpline below).
Common Mistakes in the Application
- Selecting the Post-Matric scheme by mistake — both schemes are separate on NSP; for professional/technical courses select Merit-cum-Means, not Post-Matric.
- Misunderstanding the income limit — this scheme’s limit is ₹2.5 lakh; ₹2 lakh is the Post-Matric Minority scheme’s limit.
- Believing the “₹33,000” figure — ₹33,000 is West Bengal’s state scheme (Aikyashree); the central Merit-cum-Means maximum is ₹30,000 (hosteller) / ₹25,000 (day scholar).
- Not completing OTR first — OTR is mandatory on NSP from 2024-25; the scholarship form cannot be filled without it.
- Giving wrong bank details — the account must be in the student’s name and Aadhaar-seeded; a wrong account number/IFSC means the amount will not arrive and the scholarship can be cancelled.
- Applying for two Central scholarships — only one of the Central Government’s SC/ST/OBC/minority scholarships can be taken.
- Three applications from one family — taking all three MOMA schemes together, a maximum of two students from one family can get the scholarship.
- Paying an agent — the NSP application is free; anyone asking for money may be a fraud.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Haryana Merit-cum-Means Scholarship?
It is a Central Government scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) for students of the 6 notified minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi) pursuing professional/technical courses (B.Tech, MBBS, MBA, MCA etc.). It gives a course fee reimbursement of up to ₹20,000 per year + maintenance allowance of ₹10,000 (hosteller) / ₹5,000 (day scholar) per year — a total maximum of ₹30,000/₹25,000 per year. Eligibility: 50% marks in the previous exam, family income not more than ₹2.5 lakh, admission to a recognised institution. Applications are made only on NSP, online.
2. How much scholarship is given under this scheme?
Course fee up to ₹20,000 per year (actual fee or ₹20,000, whichever is less) + maintenance allowance of ₹1,000 per month (hosteller) or ₹500 per month (day scholar), for 10 months. Total maximum — hosteller ₹30,000 per year, day scholar ₹25,000 per year. At the 85 listed premier institutes, the full course fee is reimbursed (no ₹20,000 cap).
3. What is the difference between Merit-cum-Means and the Post-Matric Minority Scholarship?
Both are MOMA schemes, but different: Merit-cum-Means is only for professional/technical courses (UG/PG), income limit ₹2.5 lakh, amount up to ₹30,000 per year, 60,000 fresh scholarships per year. Post-Matric Minority covers Class 11 to PhD, all courses, income limit ₹2 lakh, amount up to ₹15,000 per year, 5 lakh scholarships per year. Both are applied for separately on NSP — do not select the wrong one.
4. Are students admitted without a competitive examination also eligible?
Yes — as per the official guidelines, students admitted without a competitive examination are also eligible, provided they have 50% marks in the last qualifying examination (higher secondary/graduation). Such students are selected strictly on merit. This applies to fresh scholarships only.
5. What is the last date for the Haryana Merit-cum-Means Scholarship 2026-27?
There is no confirmed last date. On 8 November 2026, this scheme was not visible on NSP’s live scheme list — no opening date and no last date has been published. Some websites quote “30 November 2026”, but that is only an estimate and does not match NSP’s live list. Check the “Schemes on NSP” list on scholarships.gov.in yourself before applying.
6. Where and how to apply? Is OTR necessary?
Yes — applications are made only on NSP (scholarships.gov.in), online, and One Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory from 2024-25. First complete OTR (mobile OTP + Aadhaar e-KYC + face authentication), then login with your OTR number and select “Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses” to fill the form. There is no offline application.
7. Can SC/OBC students also get the benefit of this scheme?
No — this scheme is only for students of the 6 notified minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi). SC students have separate schemes (such as SC Post-Matric and Top Class Education) and OBC students have PM-YASASVI. One student can take only one of the Central Government’s SC/ST/OBC/minority scholarships.
Helpline and Contacts
- NSP Helpline: 0120-6619540; Email [email protected]
- Haryana Nodal (SEWA Department): Mrs. Neera Malik, Deputy Director, Social Justice & Empowerment Department, Haryana — Phone 0172-2716664, Email [email protected], SCO 68-70, Sector 17-A, Chandigarh (as per MOMA’s nodal list)
- Apply online: National Scholarship Portal — scholarships.gov.in (“Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses”)
- Note: The website minorityaffairs.gov.in was not opening on 8 November 2026 (timing out). The scheme guidelines are taken from the official PDF available on NSP.
Official Sources
- NSP — Official guidelines of the Merit-cum-Means scheme (PDF) — https://scholarships.gov.in/public/schemeGuidelines/MoMA_MCM_2018-20.pdf
- National Scholarship Portal (NSP) — https://scholarships.gov.in/ (live scheme list: All-Scholarships)
- myScheme — Haryana schemes list — https://www.myscheme.gov.in/search/state/Haryana
- Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) — https://minorityaffairs.gov.in
- NSP Helpdesk — https://scholarships.gov.in/ (Helpline 0120-6619540)
Disclaimer: The information in this article was checked from public sources on 8 November 2026 — the scheme’s department, eligibility, benefit (course fee up to ₹20,000 + allowance ₹10,000/₹5,000 per year, maximum ₹30,000/₹25,000) and application process from the official Merit-cum-Means guidelines (PDF) available on NSP. The 2026-27 application status is given on the basis of NSP’s live list — on 8 November 2026 this scheme was not visible on the list, so no last date is given. The scheme’s rules and dates may change — before applying, confirm the current status from NSP’s scheme list and your institute.
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