What is the purpose of this scheme ?

The "Chief Minister Merit Award" scheme offers ₹3,000/- per year for five years to 1000 boys and 1000 girls from SC/ST communities, based on their plus 2 public examination marks, provided they continue their education.

Who is eligible for the Chief Minister Merit Award?

Students from SC/ST (Adi Dravidar, Tribal, or converted to Christianity) communities who are among the top 1000 boys or top 1000 girls in the plus 2 Public Examinations.

How much is the award amount?

The award amount is ₹3,000/-per annum for 5 years.

How long is the award granted for?

The award is granted for 5 consecutive years, provided the student continues their education.

Is there an income limit for eligibility?

No, there is no income limit for this award.

How are students selected?

Selection is based on the marks obtained in the plus 2 Public Examinations.

What happens if a student discontinues education?

The student will no longer be eligible for the award if they discontinue their education.

Can students from other communities apply?

No, only SC/ST students (Adi Dravidar, Tribal, or converted to Christianity) are eligible.

Can students apply after the plus 2 examination results?

Yes, the application must be processed through their educational institution after the plus 2 results.

How does a student apply for the award?

The application is processed through their educational institution, which forwards it to the District Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Officer (DADWO).

Can the award be renewed each year?

Yes, the award is given annually for 5 years, subject to verification of continued education.

Who administers the scheme?

The District Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Officer (DADWO) administers the scheme.

When was the “Chief Minister Merit Award” introduced?

It was introduced on May 7, 2012.

Chief Minister Merit Award

By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk

Overview

About CMMA

The Chief Minister Merit Award is a Tamil Nadu state scholarship run by the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, the arm of the state government responsible for the education and welfare of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. It recognises students from the Adi Dravidar (Scheduled Caste) and Tribal (Scheduled Tribe) communities who finish among the highest scorers in the state's Plus 2 (Higher Secondary) public examinations.

The award is a cash grant paid annually over five years, conditional on the student continuing into higher education. Its purpose is to keep the strongest performers from these communities in study: instead of stopping at the Higher Secondary stage or moving straight into work, awardees are supported through the years that follow their Plus 2 results, into college or university.

Selection runs on merit. A fixed number of boys and a fixed number of girls are chosen each year on the strength of their Plus 2 board marks, and the grant is paid to students who stay enrolled. Because places are capped and awarded on rank, the scheme reaches the top scorers of each cohort rather than every eligible student.

Sources: Chief Minister Merit Award, myScheme (Government of India) · Chief Minister's Merit Award Scheme, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare (KnowledgeKendra) · TN Scholarship 2026, Buddy4Study

Who runs it

Provider

Tamil Nadu State Government

State / UT Government

Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department

At a glance

Key details

Level	State/ UT
Scheme type	—
Category	Education & Learning
Beneficiaries	Individual
Benefit type	Cash
Application mode	Offline

Calendar

Important dates

Across all open application cycles.

Important dates by cycle
Cycle	Stage	Date

Who can apply

Eligibility criteria

The beneficiary should be a resident of Tamil Nadu.
The beneficiary should belong to the Adi Dravidar/ Tribal/ Adi Dravidar converted to Christianity communities.
The beneficiary should have passed plus 2 Public Examination.
The beneficiary should be continuing their studies after plus 2 standards.

What you get

Award & benefits

Financial Support: ₹3,000/- per year for five consecutive years.

What to prepare

Documents required

Proof of identity (Aadhar card or any other document as directed by the authority).

Caste certificate (Adi Dravidar/ Tribal/ Adi Dravidar converted to Christian).

Marksheet of plus 2 Public Examination.

Proof of continuing education after 10th standard (admission or enrolment certificate).

Bank account details.

Any other documents (if required).

Step by step

How to apply

1
Apply offline
See the official links below for the application portal.

Source

Official links

Guidelines myScheme (Government of India)

Questions

CMMA – FAQ

Disclaimer

Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.

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Chief Minister Merit Award(CMMA)