Sainik Schools: Everything You Need to Know
The Ministry of Education (MOE), Government of India (GOI) has set up the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an independent organization. NTA is responsible for conducting fair, transparent, and high-standard exams that help assess students’ skills for admission to top colleges and universities. This was done under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Sainik Schools are English-medium residential schools that follow the CBSE curriculum. These schools are run by the Sainik Schools Society (SSS), an organization under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The main goal of Sainik Schools is to prepare students (called Cadets) for entry into prestigious defense training academies like the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune and the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala.
Currently, there are 33 Sainik Schools across India.
Admission to Sainik Schools
Students can apply for Class VI and Class IX admissions in Sainik Schools. Selection is based on their performance in the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE).
New Sainik Schools Initiative
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the establishment of 18 new Sainik Schools. These new schools operate in collaboration with NGOs, private schools, or state governments. Admissions to Class VI in these new schools are also conducted through the AISSEE 2024 exam.
Sainik School Admission 2025: Exam Overview
Check Sainik School Admission for session 2025-26 exam overview from the following table:
| Article for | Sainik School Admission Form 2025-26 |
| Admission Under | Ministry of Defense, Government of India |
| Exam Name | All India Sainik School Entrance Examination |
| Conducted by | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Mode of Examination | Offline |
| Academic Session | 2025-2026 |
| Number of Attempts | Once a Year |
| Admission For | Class 6 & 9 |
| Selection Criteria | Entrance Exam, Medical Test Based |
| Official Website | https:// exams.nta.ac .in/AISSEE/ |
Sainik School 2025 Eligibility Criteria
- The students who are willing to take admission in Sainik School, must have finished their prior years class examination from a government approved school.
- Age Limit For Class 6 Admission – For Boys/Girls 10 to 12 years (01 April 2013 to 31 March 2015).
- Age Limit For Class 9 Admission – For Boys Only 13 to 15 years (01 April 2010 to 31 March 2012) (Note: Girls are not applicable for Class IX).
- As on 31 March, 2025.
Sainik School Admission Fees 2025
| Category | Application Fee |
| For General/ Defence Category | Rs.650/- |
| For SC/ST Category | Rs.500/- |
Steps to Fill Out Sainik School Online Form 2025
Step 1: Sainik School Admission Online Registration 2025
- Visit the NTA official website: exams.nta.ac.in/AISSEE/ or use the direct link provided.
- On the homepage, find and click on the “Sainik School Admission Application Form” link.
- Complete the primary registration with the necessary details.
- Create a new user account and fill out the application form with personal information, address, exam medium, school preference, exam center preference, and parent’s information.
- Click on the “Save” button to create a User ID and Password, and then save them for future use.
Step 2: Upload Photograph & Signature
- Arrange all necessary documents before starting the online registration process.
- Upload a scanned passport-sized photo and signature in the specified size and format.
- Ensure the size of photographs and signature images does not exceed 1MB.
Step 3: Online Payment of Application Fee
- Pay the Sainik school fee of ₹650 for General/ Defence Category Students and ₹500 for SC/ST students online after uploading scanned images.
- Available payment modes: Online – Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking.
Step 4: Upload Other Required Documents
- Upload the scanned copies of birth certificates, domicile certificates (if applicable), and caste certificates.
- Ensure image size does not exceed 2MB and formats should be .jpg, .png, or .pdf.
- General and Defense category students are exempt from uploading a caste certificate.
Step 5: Download the Confirmation Page and Submit the Sainik School Admission Form
- Download the Confirmation page after uploading all documents.
- Finally, submit the admission form by clicking on the “Submit” button.
