AISSEE 2027: Sainik School Entrance Dates and How to Apply
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened applications for the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE) 2027. Its public notice dated 3 November 2026 says the form is open from 3 November to 2 December 2026 (up to 11:50 pm), and the exam will be held on Sunday, 31 January 2027.
AISSEE is the entrance exam for admission to Class 6 and Class 9 in Sainik Schools and approved New Sainik Schools for the academic year 2027-28. So it matters to families whose child is in Class 5 or Class 8 now. This guide covers the dates, eligibility, fee, paper pattern and what Gujarat families should know, using NTA's notice and the AISSEE 2027 Information Bulletin.
AISSEE 2027 key dates
| Step | Dates |
|---|---|
| Apply online and pay the fee | 3 November to 2 December 2026 (up to 11:50 pm) |
| Late application, with ₹500 late fee | 3 to 6 December 2026 (up to 11:50 pm) |
| Correction window | 7 to 9 December 2026 (up to 11:50 pm) |
| Exam city slip | 11 January 2027 |
| Admit card | 25 January 2027 |
| Exam | 31 January 2027 (Sunday) |
| Result | To be announced on the website |
Exam timings:
- Class 6 entrance: 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm (150 minutes)
- Class 9 entrance: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (180 minutes)
The bulletin says the schedule will not change even if 31 January is declared a public holiday.
What are Sainik Schools and New Sainik Schools?
Sainik Schools are run by the Sainik Schools Society under the Ministry of Defence. They are English-medium residential schools affiliated to CBSE, and they prepare students to join the National Defence Academy, the Indian Naval Academy and other officer training academies. There are 33 Sainik Schools across India.
Approved New Sainik Schools are run in partnership with NGOs, private schools and state governments, under the aegis of the Sainik Schools Society. For 2027-28, AISSEE covers Class 6 admission in 80 New Sainik Schools and Class 9 admission in 40 of them.
One exam and one application cover both types of school, and the fee is the same whichever you choose.
Sainik Schools in Gujarat
The Information Bulletin lists one Sainik School in Gujarat: Sainik School Balachadi (District Jamnagar).
It also lists eight approved New Sainik Schools in Gujarat:
- Shri Motibhai R. Chaudhari Sagar Sainik School, Boriyavi, Mehsana
- Shri Brahmanand Vidya Mandir Sainik School, Chaparda, Junagadh
- Banas Sainik School, Moriya, Palanpur (Banaskantha)
- HJD Institute, Kutch
- Prarthana Global School, Modasa (Aravalli)
- Shree G K Bharad Vidya Mandir, Rajkot
- Shree Swaminarayan Sainik School, Jetalpur, Ahmedabad
- SRK Sainik School, Navsari
Seats differ from school to school and by class. Check the vacancy tables in the bulletin and the school's own website before applying.
Who can apply: age limits
| Admission to | Age on 31 March 2027 | Date of birth (both days included) |
|---|---|---|
| Class 6 | 10 to 12 years | 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2017 |
| Class 9 | 13 to 15 years | 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2014 |
A few more conditions from the bulletin:
- Girls can apply for Class 6 on the same age rules as boys. For Class 9, admission for girls is open subject to vacancies.
- For Class 9, the student must have passed Class 8 from a recognised school at the time of admission.
- In New Sainik Schools, at least 40% of seats go to students from the AISSEE merit list. Up to 60% can go to students already studying in that school, through a qualifying test.
Application fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / wards of Defence personnel and ex-servicemen / OBC (NCL, central list) | ₹850 |
| SC / ST | ₹700 |
Bank or service charges are extra. The fee is not refundable. Pay online by debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.
AISSEE 2027 exam pattern
The exam is pen and paper, on an OMR sheet, with multiple-choice questions. There is no negative marking.
Class 6 (300 marks, 125 questions)
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 50 | 3 | 150 |
| Intelligence | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| General Knowledge | 25 | 2 | 50 |
Class 9 (400 marks, 150 questions)
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 50 | 4 | 200 |
| Intelligence | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| English | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| General Science | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| Social Science | 25 | 2 | 50 |
Mathematics carries half the marks in both papers, so it deserves the most practice time.
Language of the paper: the Class 9 paper is in English only. The Class 6 paper is offered in 13 languages, including Gujarati, English and Hindi. The language you choose in the form cannot be changed later.
The topics for each class are listed in Appendices II and III of the bulletin, and previous question papers are on nta.ac.in.
Passing marks
To be eligible for admission, a student needs at least 25% in each section and 40% overall.
- For Sainik Schools, this minimum does not apply to SC and ST candidates. They are admitted on merit within their category.
- For New Sainik Schools, the 25% and 40% rule applies to everyone, whatever the category.
Qualifying does not guarantee a seat. Admission depends on rank in the merit list, e-counselling, a medical fitness check and verification of original documents.
Exam cities in Gujarat
You choose four exam cities in order of preference. The cities listed for Gujarat are:
- Ahmedabad
- Jamnagar
- Surat
- Junagadh
- Mehsana
NTA may allot a centre in another city if too few students choose a city, and the centre cannot be changed after the admit card is issued.
How to apply
Apply only on exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society. There are three steps:
- Register with a unique email ID and mobile number. Use your own or a parent's, because all messages from NTA and the Sainik Schools Society go there, and you will need them again at counselling.
- Fill the form and upload documents. Note down the Application Number.
- Pay the fee and download the Confirmation Page. The form is incomplete until the fee is paid.
Keep these ready:
| Document | Format | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph | JPG | 10 to 200 kB |
| Signature | JPG | 10 to 50 kB |
| Left-hand thumb impression | JPG | 10 to 50 kB |
| Birth certificate from the competent authority | 50 to 300 kB | |
| Domicile certificate | 50 to 300 kB | |
| Caste or category certificate (if applicable) | 50 to 300 kB | |
| Service certificate or PPO (Defence category only) | 50 to 300 kB |
Submit only one form. If you submit more than one for the same class, NTA keeps only the latest one with the fee paid. Check every detail, because the bulletin says corrections made in the December window are final and changes are not normally allowed later, including at counselling or admission.
NTA has also warned parents about agents who promise admission for money. Neither NTA nor the Sainik Schools Society has any agents. Use only the official website.
What parents should do now
- Check the date of birth against the table above before anything else.
- Collect the documents, especially the birth and domicile certificates, which can take time to get.
- Apply before 2 December to avoid the ₹500 late fee and leave time to fix a failed payment.
- Start with Mathematics. It is 150 of 300 marks for Class 6 and 200 of 400 for Class 9.
- Solve previous papers from nta.ac.in under timed conditions, on an OMR sheet if you can.
Classes 5 to 8 at Keystone
Strong school basics, especially in Mathematics and English, are what entrance exams like this test. Keystone Neev teaches Classes 7 to 10 for CBSE, GSEB and ICSE students, with regular tests and a Mera Personal Mentor WhatsApp group for each student, so parents see results as they happen. For younger children, our guide on whether a primary school child needs tuition may help. Visit your nearest Keystone branch to know more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for AISSEE 2027?
2 December 2026, up to 11:50 pm, including fee payment. With a ₹500 late fee, you can apply from 3 to 6 December 2026.
When is the AISSEE 2027 exam?
On Sunday, 31 January 2027. The Class 6 paper is from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm and the Class 9 paper from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
What is the age limit for AISSEE 2027?
For Class 6, the child must be born between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2017. For Class 9, between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2014. Both dates are included.
Can girls apply for Sainik School admission?
Yes. Girls can apply for Class 6 on the same age rules as boys. For Class 9, admission for girls is open subject to vacancies.
Is there negative marking in AISSEE?
No. There is no negative marking in AISSEE 2027.
Can the Class 6 paper be written in Gujarati?
Yes. The Class 6 paper is offered in 13 languages, including Gujarati. The Class 9 paper is in English only.
Which exam cities are there in Gujarat?
Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Surat, Junagadh and Mehsana.
Source: NTA Public Notice, "Inviting Online Application for All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE)-2027", 3 November 2026 and the AISSEE-2027 Information Bulletin.
