Military School Admission 2027 for Class 6 and 9: Dates, Eligibility and How to Apply

If you want your child to join a military school in Class 6 or Class 9 for the 2027-28 session, two entrance tests matter this season. The Rashtriya Military School Common Entrance Test (RMS CET 2026) is open now, and its online form closes on 20 October 2026. The All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE 2027) has not been announced yet. Its bulletin and form were not on the NTA website when we checked on 15 October 2026.

This guide explains both routes in simple words: age limits, dates, fees, documents, exam pattern and selection. We mark every detail as confirmed, expected or from last year, so you can act on facts and not on guesses.

Last checked: 15 October 2026, against official NTA pages and information bulletins.

Key facts at a glance

Time-sensitive: The standard RMS CET application window ends on 20 October 2026. If you are reading this close to that date, finish the form and fee payment first.

Which military schools take Class 6 and Class 9 admission?

In India, "military school" usually means one of two government-linked systems. Both are English-medium residential schools, and both admit students to Class 6 and Class 9 through an NTA-conducted entrance test.

•     Sainik Schools are run by the Sainik Schools Society, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Defence. The 2026 bulletin lists 33 Sainik Schools, plus approved New Sainik Schools run in partnership with private institutions, NGOs or state governments.

•     Rashtriya Military Schools (RMS) are run under the Ministry of Defence for children of defence personnel and civilians. There are five: Chail (Himachal Pradesh), Ajmer and Dholpur (Rajasthan), and Belgaum and Bengaluru (Karnataka). They are co-educational, CBSE-affiliated and admit boarders only.

Other schools with "military" in their name, such as private or Army Public Schools, run their own admissions and are not covered here.

RMS CET 2026: admission for Class 6 and 9 (session 2027-28)

Important dates

Eligibility and age limit

•     Boys and girls can apply. Girls have reserved seats: 10% (maximum 30) in Class 6 and 10% in Class 9, across all five schools.

•     Only the date of birth certificate issued by a Municipal Corporation or authorised local government body is accepted. A Gram Panchayat certificate is not.

•     Candidates should preferably know English, the medium of instruction.

Application fee

Bank or gateway charges are extra, and the fee is non-refundable (except duplicate payments).

Exam pattern

•     The test is OMR-based with no negative marking. The standard is generally Class 5 for Class 6 and Class 8 for Class 9.

•     The Class 6 paper is bilingual (English and Hindi). The Class 9 paper is in English only.

Selection process

1.      Stage 1, written exam: conducted by NTA.

2.      Stage 2, medical: at a nominated military hospital that you choose during registration. Candidates found unfit are not admitted.

3.      Stage 3, interview: held at one of the RMS. Marks are added to the written score.

4.      Stage 4, final merit list: category-wise, based on exam plus interview marks, vacancies and medical fitness.

Reservation

Seats are divided as 70% for JCOs and other ranks (serving and retired), 20% for officers and 10% for civilians. Within each, OBC (NCL) 27%, SC 15% and ST 7.5% apply. In addition, 50 seats (not more than 15 in either school) are earmarked for wards of personnel killed in action. Wards of paramilitary forces, police and defence civilians apply under the civilian category.

AISSEE 2027 for Sainik Schools: what we know so far

Current status

As of 15 October 2026, NTA's AISSEE page still lists only AISSEE 2026 items. There is no 2027 Information Bulletin, form or fee notice. NTA's tentative calendar, published on 16 September 2026, lists the exam for 31 January 2027, but this can change. Treat all other 2027 dates you see online as estimates until NTA publishes the bulletin.

Last year as a guide (AISSEE 2026)

If NTA follows a similar pattern, the 2027 form may open soon. That is a pattern, not a promise.

Expected age limit

The 2026 rule was 10 to 12 years for Class 6 and 13 to 15 years for Class 9, counted on 31 March of the admission year. If the same rule continues, the 2027 limits would be as below. Please confirm them in the 2027 bulletin.

Exam pattern used in 2026

In 2026 the test was OMR-based with multiple-choice questions and no negative marking. Class 6 candidates could choose from 13 languages for the question paper, while Class 9 was in English only.

Seats, reservation and counselling (2026 rules)

•     In existing Sainik Schools, 67% of seats were for the home state or UT and 33% for other states. Of the balance after SC (15%), ST (7.5%) and OBC-NCL (27%) shares, 25% was reserved for wards of defence personnel and ex-servicemen.

•     The 2026 bulletin noted that reservation was subject to the outcome of an appeal in the Madras High Court. Check whether the 2027 bulletin repeats this.

•     Candidates needed at least 25% in each section and 40% overall (SC and ST candidates were exempt for existing Sainik Schools).

•     Admission was through e-counselling, based on rank, medical fitness and document verification. Qualified candidates had to register again on the counselling portal.

•     Girls could apply in Class 6 (a minimum of 10% of seats or 10 seats, whichever is higher, per school) and in Class 9 subject to vacancies.

Military school admission 2027: RMS vs Sainik School

The two tests are separate applications with different dates. We did not find a rule in either bulletin that stops a child from applying to both, but please confirm on the official sites.

How to apply online, step by step

The steps below follow the RMS CET 2026 bulletin. NTA used the same three-step structure for AISSEE 2026, so expect AISSEE 2027 to be similar.

1.      Read the Information Bulletin and check age, class and category.

2.      Open the official NTA page and register with your own email ID and mobile number. Both are verified by OTP and cannot be changed later.

3.      Fill in the application form with details exactly as in school records. Choose up to four exam cities (RMS: within your permanent or present address state) and your medical hospital.

4.      Upload your photo, signature, left thumb impression and PDFs of certificates.

5.      Preview the form, correct any error, and submit.

6.      Pay the fee by card, net banking or UPI.

7.      Download and print the Confirmation Page. It is the only proof that your form was submitted.

Do not post any documents to NTA. The whole process is online.

Documents and upload rules

AISSEE 2026 asked for similar documents, plus a Principal's certificate for students already in an approved New Sainik School. Original documents are checked later, and mismatches can cancel candidature.

What to study: syllabus overview

•     RMS Class 6: English grammar and comprehension, intelligence (analogy, series, coding-decoding, direction sense, blood relations), Class 5 level mathematics (LCM and HCF, fractions, percentage, profit and loss, simple interest) and general knowledge with current affairs.

•     RMS Class 9: English, Hindi, Social Science, Mathematics and Science at Class 8 level.

•     AISSEE (2026 topics): Class 6 covers language, mathematics, intelligence and general knowledge. Class 9 adds general science and social science with a heavier mathematics section (200 of 400 marks).

Use the full topic lists in the official bulletins. NTA also hosts earlier AISSEE question papers on its website.

Common mistakes to avoid

•     Using a Gram Panchayat birth certificate, or a name or date of birth that does not match school records. The RMS bulletin warns this can make the candidature null and void.

•     Choosing the wrong category. OBC (Creamy Layer) candidates apply under General in RMS, and OBC-NCL in AISSEE means the central list only.

•     Paying the fee but not downloading the Confirmation Page. Without it, the form is not complete.

•     Uploading an old or unclear photo, or a signature in capital letters.

•     Entering a parent's email or phone that is not active. NTA sends all updates only to these.

•     Trusting agents who promise a seat. Both bulletins warn against touts, and selection is on merit only.

Practical tips for parents

•     Keep at least four printouts of the Confirmation Page and 6 to 8 matching photographs.

•     Check email and SMS regularly, and visit the NTA page for notices.

•     Visit the exam centre a day earlier if possible. Late entry is not allowed.

•     Carry only the admit card, a valid original photo ID, a transparent water bottle and a simple transparent pen. Phones, watches and calculators are barred.

•     A good score does not by itself confirm a seat. Medical fitness, documents, category and vacancies also matter.

Official websites and help