Last year, the form opened on October 10, 2025, the exam was held on January 18, 2026, and results came out on February 27, 2026. A similar timeline is likely this year.
Latest Update – The Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School, Lucknow, and Sainik School Gorakhpur are run by the Uttar Pradesh government and hold their own entrance exam. Applications for the 2027-28 session are open now. CLICK HERE to apply.
Sainik School Admission 2027-28: Important Dates
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination 2027 for admission to Class 6 and Class 9. Below are the key dates:
Key Dates for Sainik School Admission
| Event | 2027 (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Application form opens | October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | November 2026 |
| Correction window | November 2026 |
| Admit card | January 2027 |
| Entrance exam (AISSEE) | January 2027 |
| Provisional answer key | February 2027 |
| Result | February 2027 |
| E-counselling, medical exam and final merit list | February to May 2027 |
Note: The 2027 dates will be confirmed only when NTA releases the AISSEE 2027 information bulletin.
Sainik School Admission 2027 – Eligibility Criteria
As per the official notification the detailed eligibility conditions for Class 6 and Class 9 are given below, students must meet the following criteria.
Sainik School Admission Eligibility Criteria 2027
| Class | Age Criteria (as on March 31, 2026) | Educational Qualification |
| Class 6 | 10 to 12 years | Must be studying in Class V from a recognised school |
| Class 9 | 13 to 15 years | Must be studying in Class VIII from a recognised school |
Also Read: KV Admission 2026-27 – Registration Date, Eligibility Criteria, Last Date
Can Girls Apply for Sainik School Admission 2027?
Girls can also apply for Class 9, but only where the school has vacancies for them. Check the tentative vacancy list in the information bulletin before you apply. New Sainik Schools follow their own admission policy for girls, so check the school’s website too.
Sainik School Admission 2027 – Selection Process & Admission Routes
Sainik School admission is conducted through a structured and merit-based selection process. The detailed stages of the admission procedure are outlined below:
Sainik School Selection Process
1. AISSEE 2027 Entrance Exam: Candidates must appear for the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE 2027), which is the primary screening stage.
2. E-Counselling Process: Shortlisted students are allotted seats through an online counselling system based on their merit rank.
4. Document Verification: Final admission is granted only after successful verification of original documents.
Sainik School Admission Routes
40% Route: Under this route, 40% of the total seats in AISSEE 2026 are allocated purely on the basis of the candidate’s overall merit rank. No domicile or category-based reservation is applicable in this category.
60% Route: The remaining 60% of seats are reserved for students studying in approved New Sainik Schools. Admissions are granted based on the school-wise merit list derived from AISSEE 2026 scores, without any domicile or category reservation.
Sainik School Admission 2027 – Reservation Policy
Sainik school admission is conducted in accordance with the reservation policy prescribed by AISSEE (NTA). The allocation of seats is based on the following categories listed below.
Category-Wise Reservation Criteria
- Scheduled Caste: 15% of the total seats are reserved for SC candidates.
- Scheduled Tribe: 7.5% of the seats are reserved for ST candidates.
State-Wise Reservation
Most seats in the 33 Sainik Schools are reserved, so your domicile and category make a big difference.
| Quota | Share of seats |
|---|---|
| Students domiciled in the state or UT where the school is located (home state) | 67% |
| Students from other states and UTs | 33% |
Within both the home state and other states quota, seats are further reserved as follows:
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes, Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL), central list | 27% |
| Children of serving defence personnel and ex-servicemen | 25% of the seats, from the remaining 50.5% |
In the other states quota, no single state or UT can get more than 25% of the seats. Unfilled seats in the other states quota move to the home state quota.
Domicile and category reservation do not apply to New Sainik Schools, except at Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna Sainik School in Belagavi. The current reservation rules are subject to the outcome of an appeal pending before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, so check the 2027 bulletin for any change.
Reservation for Defence Personnel
- Children of Service Personnel/Ex-Servicemen: 25% of the total seats are reserved for wards of defence personnel, including ex-servicemen.
Also Read: Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
AISSEE 2027 Exam Pattern and Qualifying Marks
AISSEE is a pen-and-paper exam with multiple-choice questions answered on an OMR sheet. There is no negative marking, so your child should attempt every question.
AISSEE Class 6 Exam Pattern (300 marks, 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm)
| Section | Questions | Marks per question | Total marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 50 | 3 | 150 |
| Intelligence | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| General Knowledge | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| Total | 125 | 300 |
AISSEE Class 9 Exam Pattern (400 marks, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm)
| Section | Questions | Marks per question | Total marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 50 | 4 | 200 |
| Intelligence | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| English | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| General Science | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| Social Science | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| Total | 150 | 400 |
Mathematics carries half the marks in both papers, so it deserves the most practice time. It is also the first tie-breaker: if two students score the same total, the one with more marks in Mathematics ranks higher, followed by Intelligence.
For Class 6, the paper can be taken in any of 13 languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Assamese and Urdu. For Class 9, the paper is in English only.
AISSEE Qualifying Marks
To be considered for a Sainik School, a student must score at least 25% in each section and 40% overall. These minimum marks do not apply to SC and ST students for the 33 Sainik Schools, but they apply to all students, including SC and ST, for the New Sainik Schools. Qualifying alone does not guarantee a seat. Admission depends on rank, available seats, medical fitness and document checks.
Sainik School Admission 2027 – Application Process
The application process for Sainik school admission is conducted online through the official AISSEE portal. Candidates must carefully complete each step of the application form to successfully register for the entrance examination.
Step 1: Online Registration
- Visit the official website of ALL INDIA SAINIK SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM
- Click on the ‘Application’ link available on the homepage.
- Read the instructions carefully and click on ‘Proceed’.
- Fill in the application form with details such as personal information, preferred exam medium, school choice, exam centre and parents’ details.
- Click on ‘Save’ to generate your user ID and password for future login.
Step 2: Upload Photograph and Signature
- Upload a passport-sized photograph and candidate’s signature.
- Files must be in .jpg format.
- Ensure that each file size does not exceed 1 MB.
Step 3: Application Fee Payment
1. Pay the application fee online after uploading the images:
- ₹850 for General/OBC candidates
- ₹700 for SC/ST candidates
2. Payment can be made via credit card, debit card, or net banking.
Step 4: Upload Required Documents
1. Upload scanned copies of the following documents:
- Birth certificate
- Domicile certificate
- Caste certificate (if applicable)
2. Accepted formats: .jpg, .png or .pdf
3. Maximum file size: 2 MB per document
Note: Candidates under general and defence categories are not required to upload caste certificates.
Step 5: Download Confirmation Page
- After completing all steps, a confirmation page will be generated.
- Carefully verify all the details entered in the application form.
- Download and keep a copy of the confirmation page for future reference.
Step 6: Final Submission
- Click on the ‘Submit’ button to complete the application process.
- Note down the application number for future use.
Documents Required for Sainik School Admission 2027
Candidates must ensure they have all the necessary documents as specified below for Sainik School admission –
- Candidate’s photograph (scanned image, 10 KB – 200 KB, JPG format)
- Candidate’s signature (10 KB – 50 KB, JPG format)
- Left-hand thumb impression (10 KB – 50 KB, JPG format; right-hand thumb allowed if left is unavailable)
- Date of birth certificate (issued by competent authority)
- Domicile certificate
- Caste/Community/Category certificate (if applicable)
- Service certificate for defence (serving) and PPO for ex-servicemen (if applicable)
- Certificate from the principal (for students studying in approved New Sainik Schools, if applicable)
- All relevant certificates (50 KB – 300 KB, PDF format)
Sainik School Admission 2027 – FAQs
1. Is Sainik School free of cost?
No. Sainik Schools are residential schools, so parents pay for tuition, boarding and other costs, and the fee differs from school to school. Scholarships can reduce the cost. Children of defence personnel can get a defence scholarship, and several state governments support students from their state. Check your chosen school’s website for its current fee and scholarships.
2. What is the last date to apply for Sainik School in 2026?
For the 2027–28 session, the AISSEE 2027 form is expected to open in October 2026, and the last date will be announced by NTA in the notification. Last year, applications opened on October 10, 2025, and the deadline was extended to November 9, 2025. For the state-run UP Sainik Schools, the last date is October 25, 2026 (or October 31 with a late fee).
3. Which one is better, RMS or Sainik School?
Both Rashtriya Military Schools (RMS) and Sainik Schools operate under the Ministry of Defence. RMS reserves 70% of seats for defence personnel families, while Sainik Schools allocate 67% to home-state students, making Sainik Schools generally more accessible to civilian candidates.
4. How to get a seat in Sainik School?
Your child needs to clear the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE), conducted by NTA. Students who qualify register for online counselling, choose their schools, pass a medical exam and complete document verification. Seats are then allotted by merit rank, category and home state quota. Focus on Mathematics, because it carries half the marks in the exam.
5. How much percentage is required for Sainik School?
There is no minimum percentage from school. Your child only needs to be in Class 5 (for Class 6 admission) or Class 8 (for Class 9 admission). In the entrance exam, students need at least 25% in each section and 40% overall to qualify. SC and ST students are exempt from these minimum marks for the 33 Sainik Schools, but not for the New Sainik Schools.