By the Education Karnataka Editorial Team · Last updated: November 2026

Quick answer: Families can reduce school costs through:

• government scholarships, such as the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) and schemes on the State Scholarship Portal (SSP) and the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
• government residential schools, such as KREIS schools and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
• school-level merit or need-based concessions, offered by some private schools

Eligibility depends on income, category, marks and class.

Key takeaways

• NMMS is a national scholarship selected through an exam taken in Class 8.
• Karnataka’s State Scholarship Portal (SSP) and the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) list many schemes.
• Government residential schools offer residential education to eligible students.
• Ask private schools directly about merit, sibling or need-based concessions.

Types of financial support

Type	Examples	Who it suits
Merit-cum-means scholarship	NMMS (selection in Class 8)	Students from lower-income families with good marks
State scholarships	Schemes on the SSP portal	Eligible categories and income groups
National scholarships	Schemes on the NSP portal	Eligible categories
Government residential schools	KREIS schools, JNVs	Eligible students through entrance tests
School concessions	Merit, sibling or need-based	Varies by school

How to find and apply

1. Check the SSP and NSP portals for schemes and deadlines.
2. Ask your school about the NMMS exam in Class 8.
3. Ask private schools for their concession policies in writing.
4. Keep documents ready: income and caste certificates, marks cards and bank details.

Tips

• Start early. Deadlines are often months before the academic year.
• Use only official portals, and avoid agents promising guaranteed scholarships.
• Keep copies of applications and acknowledgements.

Frequently asked questions

What is NMMS? The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship supports meritorious students from economically weaker families, with selection through an exam in Class 8.

Do private boarding schools give scholarships? Some offer merit or need-based concessions. Ask each school for its policy.

Can scholarships cover hostel fees? Some schemes do, depending on their rules. Check each scheme.

Where is Karnataka’s scholarship portal? The State Scholarship Portal (SSP) is run by the Karnataka government. Access it through official government websites.

Are there scholarships for PU students? Yes, several schemes cover PU and higher education. Check SSP and NSP.

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