PRAYAGRAJ, Nov. 10 -- A total of 77 percent of the registered candidates appeared for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Examination 2026-27, held on Sunday at 394 examination centres across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, under the supervision of the Prayagraj-headquartered Examination Regulatory Authority, UP. According to officials, 1,57,721 students were registered for the scholarship examination and out of which 1,21,445 (77%) candidates appeared, while 36,276 (23%) remained absent. The examination was conducted in two shifts- from 10 am to 1 pm. for general candidates and 10 am to 2 pm for differently-abled students. Applications were invited only from students who passed Class 7 in the 2024-25 academic session with a minimum of 55 percent marks (relaxation of 5 percent for SC/ST candidates) and are presently studying in Class 8 during the 2025-26 session in government, government-aided, or local body (parishadiya) schools. Successful candidates from Uttar Pradesh will receive a scholarship of Rs.1,000 per month or Rs.12,000 per year from Class 9 to Class 12. A total of 15,143 meritorious students of UP will benefit from this scheme....