AISSEE 2026: Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Result and Counselling

AISSEE 2026 (All India Sainik Schools Entrance Exam) was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Sainik Schools Society, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, on 18 January 2026. The exam offered admissions to Class VI and Class IX in Sainik Schools across India. The result was declared on 27 February 2026, and the AISSAC 2026 e-counselling has reached its final stage — Round 6 was completed on May 25, 2026, the admission formalities deadline was May 31, 2026, and the NTA portal showed active updates as recently as June 4, 2026.

• School Joining: Candidates allotted seats through AISSAC 2026 must complete joining formalities at their allotted Sainik School. The academic session typically begins in July. Contact your allotted school directly for the exact reporting date and the list of documents required at the time of joining.
• Stray Vacancy Round: After AISSAC Round 6 (completed May 25, 2026), NTA may announce a stray vacancy round for any remaining unfilled seats. Keep checking the AISSAC portal at pesa.ncog.gov.in/sainikschoolecounselling/ and the NTA portal for any such notification.
• AISSEE 2027 Registration: The next AISSEE cycle is expected to open for registration around October 2026, based on prior years’ pattern. AISSEE 2026 registration opened on October 10, 2025, so a similar window is anticipated for 2027.
• NTA Portal Check: The official NTA AISSEE portal at exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society/ was showing active updates as of June 4, 2026. Candidates should check it regularly for late admission notices, correction-related updates, or any stray round announcements.

What is AISSEE 2026?

The All India Sainik Schools Entrance Exam (AISSEE) is a national-level, pen-and-paper entrance test conducted every year by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Sainik Schools Society, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The exam fills admissions in Class VI and Class IX across Sainik Schools in India.

AISSEE 2026 was held on 18 January 2026 across 464 exam centres in 190 cities. More than 1.78 lakh candidates appeared for the exam this year, competing for around 3,110 seats in Class VI and 533 seats in Class IX across 71 Sainik Schools. Sainik Schools are English-medium CBSE-affiliated residential schools that prepare students academically, physically, and mentally for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and other defence services.

AISSEE 2026: Key Highlights

Source: NTA AISSEE Official Portal

AISSEE 2026 Important Dates

The table below lists all AISSEE 2026 events. Upcoming events appear first in chronological order, followed by past events in the order they occurred.

Source: NTA AISSEE Official Portal

AISSEE 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The AISSEE 2026 eligibility criteria are different for Class VI and Class IX. You should check both sections carefully before applying for any future AISSEE cycle, since age and academic requirements are strictly enforced.

Eligibility for Class VI Entry

• Age: You must be between 10 and 12 years of age as of 31 March 2026. Your date of birth should fall between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2016 (both dates inclusive).
• Academic Qualification: You must have passed Class V from a recognised school, or be appearing in the Class V final exam in the academic year 2025–26.
• Gender: Both boys and girls are eligible for Class VI.
• Nationality: Only Indian nationals can apply.

Eligibility for Class IX Entry

• Age: You must be between 13 and 15 years of age as of 31 March 2026. Your date of birth should fall between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2013 (both dates inclusive).
• Academic Qualification: You must have passed Class VIII from a recognised school, or be appearing in the Class VIII final exam in 2025–26.
• Gender: Primarily boys. Girls are considered only in specific Sainik Schools that have declared Class IX seats available for the female category in that year’s seat matrix.
• Nationality: Only Indian nationals can apply.

Other Important Conditions

• A candidate who has already studied at any class level in a Sainik School is not eligible to apply through AISSEE.
• All candidates must be medically fit as per standards prescribed by the Sainik Schools Society. A medical examination is conducted after seat allotment; failing it leads to cancellation of the admission.
• Girls admitted to Class VI under the guaranteed 10% girls’ quota must meet the same age and academic criteria as all other candidates.

AISSEE 2026 Application Process

The AISSEE 2026 registration was entirely online through the NTA AISSEE portal. The window was open from 10 October to 9 November 2025. For future cycles, a similar process is expected. Here are the steps:

• Step 1 – New Registration: Visit exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society/ and click the AISSEE registration link. Enter your name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number to create your login credentials. Save these carefully — you will need them for all future steps.
• Step 2 – Fill the Application Form: Log in with the credentials sent to your registered email/mobile. Fill in personal details, the class you are applying for (VI or IX), domicile state, parent’s details, and school preference information.
• Step 3 – Upload Documents: Upload a recent passport-size photograph and a scanned signature in the size and format specified in the official instructions. Blurry or incorrect uploads can lead to form rejection.
• Step 4 – Pay the Fee: Pay the application fee online using credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI. The fee is non-refundable under all circumstances.
• Step 5 – Submit and Print: Review all entries carefully before final submission. After submitting, download and print the confirmation page for your records.

Form correction was allowed only from 12 to 14 November 2025. Only limited fields could be edited during this window. Name and date of birth corrections were not permitted after submission.

AISSEE 2026 Application Fee

The AISSEE 2026 application fee was paid at the time of form submission. The fee structure was the same whether you applied for Class VI, Class IX, or both classes together.

The fee was accepted only through online payment modes — no cash or demand draft was accepted. The application fee is non-refundable, even if the application is withdrawn, rejected, or if you do not appear for the exam.

AISSEE 2026 Syllabus

The AISSEE syllabus is based on NCERT content. The Class VI paper tests Class V topics; the Class IX paper tests Class VIII topics. NCERT textbooks are the single most important resource — more than 80% of AISSEE questions are directly drawn from NCERT content.

Class VI Syllabus

• Mathematics: Natural numbers, fractions, decimals, LCM & HCF, ratio & proportion, unitary method, profit & loss, percentages, averages, simple interest, area & perimeter, volume of cubes and cuboids, angles, circles, speed & time, and Roman numerals. (Based on Class V NCERT Maths.)
• Language Test (English / Hindi): Reading comprehension, grammar (tenses, prepositions, articles, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, pronouns), antonyms and synonyms, idioms and phrases, sentence formation, singular/plural, and gender.
• General Knowledge: Basic questions from Class V NCERT Science (plants, animals, environment, food and nutrition, human body) and Class V Social Studies (India’s geography, history, and civic life).
• Intelligence: Verbal and mathematical analogies, series and sequences, classification, spatial and visual reasoning, pattern recognition, familial relations, and basic logical thinking.

Class IX Syllabus

• Mathematics: Rational numbers, linear equations, quadrilaterals, triangles and angle properties, Pythagoras Theorem, squares and cubes, algebraic expressions, factorisation, percentages, profit and loss, data handling, probability, mensuration (area and volume), exponents, and direct/inverse proportion. (Based on Class VIII NCERT Maths.)
• English: Reading comprehension, spotting errors, antonyms and synonyms, tenses, active/passive voice, direct/indirect speech, prepositions, articles, subject-verb agreement, and idioms.
• General Science: Fossil fuels, combustion, cell structure, plant and animal reproduction, force and friction, sound, reflection of light, metals and non-metals, synthetic fibres, electrical effects of current, stars and the solar system, pollution, global warming, and microorganisms. (Class VIII NCERT Science.)
• Social Science: Indian history, governance and civics, and physical/political geography at Class VIII NCERT level.
• Intelligence: Analogies, series, classification, spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and logical patterns.

AISSEE 2026 Admit Card

The AISSEE 2026 admit card was released on 12 January 2026 — six days before the exam. Candidates could download it by logging in to the official NTA AISSEE portal with their application number and date of birth.

The admit card carried these details:

• Candidate’s name and photograph
• Application number and roll number
• Exam centre name, address, and city
• Exam date, reporting time, and gate-closing time
• Class applied for (VI or IX)
• General instructions for the day of the exam

Candidates had to carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar card, school ID, or passport) to the exam centre. Entry was strictly not permitted without both documents.

For AISSEE 2027, the admit card is expected to be released approximately 4–7 days before the exam, consistent with the timelines followed in 2025 and 2026.

AISSEE 2026 Answer Key

NTA released the AISSEE 2026 provisional answer key on 11 February 2026 — about three and a half weeks after the exam. The final answer key was published in the last week of February 2026, after evaluating objections raised by candidates.

• The provisional answer key was published on the official NTA AISSEE portal. Candidates could raise objections online by paying a per-question challenge fee within the objection window.
• If an objection was found valid after expert review, the challenge fee was refunded for that question.
• The final answer key was used to compute AISSEE 2026 scores and prepare the merit list. It cannot be challenged after publication.
• Both the provisional and final answer keys were available for download at exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society/.

For AISSEE 2027, expect the provisional answer key approximately 3–4 weeks after the exam date, based on the 2025 and 2026 timelines.

Sainik School Seat Matrix 2026

The AISSEE 2026 seat matrix covered 71 Sainik Schools — 33 original schools and 38 newly approved schools. For Class IX, allotment was primarily in the original 33 schools. The table below shows the broad seat distribution:

Each school typically offers between 30 and 45 Class VI seats. The exact seat count per school — broken down by category (General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST) and domicile quota (home state / other state) — is published in the official AISSAC seat matrix on the counselling portal before the Round 1 result is declared.

• Girls are guaranteed a minimum of 10% of Class VI seats or 10 seats per school (whichever is higher) under the reserved girls’ quota.
• For Class IX, girls may apply only in schools that announce specific female category vacancies in the seat matrix for that year.
• The Ministry of Defence has been steadily adding new Sainik Schools across states. The number of schools participating in Class IX admissions is expected to grow in future cycles.

Top Sainik Schools in India

The 33 original Sainik Schools have been producing NDA officers and defence leaders for more than six decades. These schools are spread across the country and run under the direct guidance of the Sainik Schools Society. Below are some of the most prominent Sainik Schools:

Each school has its own fee structure, hostel facilities, and extracurricular programmes. For school-specific details, seat availability, and contact information, visit the Sainik Schools Society official portal at sainikschoolsociety.in.

Preparation Tips for AISSEE 2027

AISSEE is one of the most competitive school-level entrance exams in India. More than 1.78 lakh students competed for just over 3,100 Class VI seats in 2026. If you are targeting AISSEE 2027, start your preparation at least one year in advance.

For Class VI Aspirants

• Mathematics is your top priority: It carries 150 of 300 marks. Cover every chapter in Class V NCERT Maths. Practise tables, fractions, ratio and proportion, percentages, and basic geometry daily. Speed and accuracy both matter on exam day.
• Build language skills through daily reading: Read short passages in English or Hindi every day. Practise grammar rules — tenses, prepositions, and articles. Keep a vocabulary notebook for new words.
• GK only from NCERT Class V: Questions come directly from Class V NCERT Science and Social Studies. Do not use adult-level GK books — they cover far more than what AISSEE tests.
• Intelligence practice daily: Solve 10–15 analogy, series, and pattern questions every day for 2–3 months before the exam. Use school-level competitive exam books designed for Class V–VI students.

For Class IX Aspirants

• NCERT Class VIII is your complete base: All five subjects draw from Class VIII NCERT. Cover every chapter and solve all in-book exercises before moving to practice papers.
• Mathematics daily practice is non-negotiable: At 200 of 400 marks, Maths can make or break your AISSEE rank. Practise algebra, mensuration, data handling, and geometry problems every single day.
• English: grammar and comprehension together: Focus on tenses, voices, narration, and error spotting. Read one 200–300 word passage daily to build comprehension speed for the exam.
• Science and Social Science — chapter by chapter: Complete NCERT Class VIII Science and Social Science chapter by chapter. Make short revision notes after each chapter. Revisit weak topics weekly.

General Exam Strategy

• Previous year papers are your best resource: AISSEE question papers from 2018 to 2025 reveal repeated question formats and high-frequency topics. Solve at least five full years’ papers under timed conditions.
• Practise within the time limit: For Class VI, you get about 1.2 minutes per question on average; the same for Class IX. Taking mock tests under real exam conditions is the only way to build this speed.
• Never leave any question blank: Since there is no negative marking, always guess your best option for questions you are unsure about. A blank is always zero; a guess at least has a chance.
• Physical fitness matters: All admitted candidates must pass a medical fitness examination. Maintain a healthy routine — adequate sleep, balanced meals, and regular physical activity — alongside your academics.