<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">The last date for submission of application for the National Means cum Merit Scholarship scheme has been extended till the 15th of this month. The scholarships are awarded to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their dropout at class eight and encourage them to continue their education at the secondary stage. Education Ministry said, one lakh fresh scholarships are awarded to selected students from class 9th every year and their continuation in classes 10th to 12th for students studying in State Government, Government-aided and local body schools. The amount of scholarship is twelve thousand per annum.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">The scholarships are disbursed directly into the bank accounts of selected students and this is 100 per cent centrally sponsored scheme. Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than three lakh 50 thousand rupees per annum are eligible to avail of the scholarships. The students must have a minimum of 55 per cent marks or equivalent grade in the Class 8th examination for appearing in the selection test for award of scholarship.</span></p>