Sainik School Eligibility Criteria 2026: Class 6 & 9, Age Limit, New Sainik School Eligibility Criteria, & Medical Eligibility Requirements

Students get Sainik School admission by passing the AISSEE exam, usually held every January. All Sainik Schools follow the eligibility rules set by the NTA for this exam. For Class VI admission in 2026-27, candidates must be 10 to 12 years old by March 31, 2026, born between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2016. They must be Indian citizens and studying in Class V at a recognised school. Both boys and girls can apply. 

For Class IX, students must be 13 to 15 years old by March 31, 2026, born between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2013, be Indian citizens, and have passed Class VIII. This blog explains the eligibility for Sainik School well to help parents before applying.

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Also Read: Sainik School Admission Age

Sainik School Eligibility Criteria

Here’s the detailed eligibility for Sainik School Admission:

Sainik School admission eligibility for Class 6

• You must be 10–12 years old on 31 March 2026.
• Your date of birth must be between 01 April 2014 and 31 March 2016 (both included).
• Both boys and girls can apply if seats are available.
• Must have passed class 5 or be studying in it from a recognised school board.

Eligibility for Sainik School for Class 9

• You must be 13–15 years old on 31 March 2026.
• Your date of birth must be between 01 April 2011 and 31 March 2014 (both included).
• Mostly, boys can only apply. However, in the 2025-26 admission cycle, there was only 1 seat for a general category girl available. 
• You must have passed Class VIII from a recognised school at the time of admission.

New Sainik School criteria for Class 6 Eligibility  

There are two categories of seats here:

Category A (40% seats):

• You should be 10–12 years old on 31 March 2026.
• Your date of birth must be between 01 April 2014 and 31 March 2016.
• Both boys and girls can apply if seats are available.
• Admission is through the AISSEE NTA exam.

Category B (60% seats):

• Same age and birthdate requirement as Category A.
• You must already be studying in that New Sainik School.
• You must have passed or be appearing in Class V by 31 March 2026.
• Selection happens through the NTA AISSEE exam. 

Also Read: Sainik School Class 6 

New Sainik School Eligibility Criteria for Class 9

Only 17 New Sainik Schools (that started Class VI in 2022–23) were offering Class IX admission in 2025–26. This number may rise for the 2026-27 admission cycle. For Class 9 admissions, again, there are two categories as mentioned below:

Category A (40% seats):

• Admission depends on vacancies left over from the original batch.
• You must be 13–15 years old on 31 March 2026.
• DOB: 01 April 2011 to 31 March 2013.
• You must have passed Class VIII from a recognised school.
• Admission is through AISSEE (NTA exam).

Category B (60% seats):

• Only for students already enrolled in the New Sainik School.
• Same age and birthdate requirement as for category A.
• You must have passed or be appearing in Class VIII by 31 March 2026.
• Admission depends on leftover seats from the original allotment, and AISSEE is not applicable in this case.

Explanation of 40% (Category A) and 60% (Category B)

• 40% seats (Category A): Filled by students who qualify AISSEE (NTA exam).
• 60% seats (Category B): Reserved for students already studying in that New Sainik School who take a qualifying test.
• If the school cannot fill the 60% seats, those seats will be offered to students from the 40% AISSEE merit list.

Medical Criteria for Sainik School

Here are some important medical criteria for admission to Sainik Schools:

• Doctors will check the medical fitness of all candidates who pass the Sainik School entrance exam.
• The fitness rules are almost the same as those for the NDA, but a little relaxed because the candidates are younger.
• Doctors do not strictly check height, weight, and chest size, but they still use NDA rules as a general guide.
• Candidates must not have any serious deformities, disabilities, or abnormal body shapes.
• Eyes must have good vision:
  • Short sight (myopia) must not be worse than -1.5D to -2.5D.
  • Long sight (hypermetropia) must not be worse than +2.5D to +3.5D (including astigmatism).
  • Candidates must not have squint or other serious eye diseases.
  • Colour blindness must be within acceptable limits.
• Candidates must hear well and have normal ear function.
• The chest must look normal and expand at least 5 cm when breathing deeply.
• Bones and joints must be healthy, without any defects that reduce normal movement.
• Candidates must not suffer from long-lasting or infectious diseases like tuberculosis, STDs, kidney problems, or epilepsy.
• Candidates must not have stammering, speech problems, or mental health issues.
• Doctors will do simple lab tests like blood tests (HB, TC, DC, ESR) and urine tests (albumin, sugar, deposits).
• Past problems like hernia or hydrocele are acceptable if treated properly and without complications.
• The medical board gives the final decision on fitness.
• If a candidate wants, they can appeal and ask for a re-examination by a review medical board.
• A team of military or government doctors usually conducts the medical tests at nearby government hospitals.

Sainik School Admission 2026 Important Links

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FAQs 

1. What’s the eligibility for UP Sainik School?

Students must hold Uttar Pradesh domicile (applicant and father). For Class VI, boys-only (for Sainik School Lucknow) or boys & girls (for Sainik School Gorakhpur) born between 01 April 2014 and 31 March 2016, and passed Class V; for Class IX, born between 01 April 2011 and 31 March 2014, and passed Class VIII. 

2. What is the Sainik School Age criteria for the year 2026-27?

Students must be 10 to 12 years old as of 31 March 2026. For example, children born between 01 April 2014 and 31 March 2016 are eligible. The school strictly follows this rule, and no age relaxation is given for Class 6 admission.

3. Can girls apply for admission in Sainik School?

Most girls are eligible to apply for Sainik Schools in Class 6 (except few Sainik Schools that don’t accept girls for Class 6 admission, like Sainik School Lucknow); however, for Sainik School admission to Class 9, there are extremely few seats for girl candidates. However, girls have plenty of seats to apply to New Sainik Schools.

4. Can NRI or foreign students apply for admission in 2026-27?

No, admission is open only to Indian citizens. Students from any Indian state or union territory can apply through AISSEE 2026. NRI or foreign students cannot take admission. The entrance test is conducted in India only.