AISSEE 2027 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Class and Domicile Rules

AISSEE 2027 eligibility requires students to fall within the prescribed age band, hold the correct class qualification, and satisfy domicile or quota conditions for their chosen Sainik School.

All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE) 2027 is expected to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to Class 6 and Class 9 in Sainik Schools across India. Checking eligibility before filling the application form is essential — an application from an ineligible student will be rejected regardless of exam performance. Key criteria include age calculated as on 31 March 2027, current class standing, gender, nationality, domicile, and medical fitness.

• Class 6 applicants must be aged 10 to 12 years as on 31 March 2027 — expected birth window: 01 April 2015 to 31 March 2017.
• Class 9 applicants must be aged 13 to 15 years as on 31 March 2027 — expected birth window: 01 April 2012 to 31 March 2014.
• Students must have passed or be studying in Class 5 (for Class 6 admission) or Class 8 (for Class 9 admission) from a recognised school.
• Both boys and girls are eligible; girls are admitted based on available vacancies at individual schools.
• Only Indian citizens are eligible to apply.
• Seat allocation follows a quota system: State Quota, Defence Quota, and All India Quota.
• Students who clear the written exam must also pass a medical fitness examination before final admission is confirmed.

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AISSEE 2027 Eligibility — Quick Overview

The table below summarises the core eligibility parameters for AISSEE 2027 for both Class 6 and Class 9. All figures are expected based on 2026 cycle trends and will be confirmed in the official NTA notification.

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Age Limit for Class 6 and Class 9

Age is the most strictly enforced eligibility condition for AISSEE and no relaxation is given to any category. The age is calculated as on 31 March of the admission year — 31 March 2027 for the 2027-28 academic session. The birth windows below are expected based on 2026 cycle patterns.

Key points on AISSEE age rules:

• No age relaxation is provided for SC, ST, OBC, Defence, or any other category.
• Even being born one day outside the window makes a student ineligible — there is no grace period.
• The reference date is 31 March 2027, not the exam date in January 2027.
• Always verify the date of birth against the official NTA notification before submitting the application form.

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Class and Educational Qualification

Students must be studying in, or must have passed, the class immediately below the one they are seeking admission to. The school must be recognised by a government-approved board or council.

• For Class 6 admission: You must be currently enrolled in Class 5, or must have passed Class 5, from a recognised school as on 31 March 2027.
• For Class 9 admission: You must be currently enrolled in Class 8, or must have passed Class 8, from a recognised school as on 31 March 2027.

Recognised boards include CBSE, ICSE, and all state education boards. Students who are appearing in their Class 5 or Class 8 final examinations at the time of applying are also eligible to apply, provided they submit their passing certificate at the time of document verification and admission.

For students applying to one of the new Sainik Schools sanctioned after 2021, an additional condition may apply: the student may need to be enrolled in an approved feeder school associated with that particular new school. Always check school-specific conditions in the official notification.

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Gender and Nationality

Both boys and girls are eligible to apply for AISSEE 2027 for Class 6 and Class 9 admission. Girls were permitted to apply to Sainik Schools starting with the 2021-22 academic session following a Ministry of Defence directive. Girl students are admitted based on available vacancies at individual schools, which may vary from school to school.

On nationality: only Indian citizens are eligible to appear in AISSEE. Students holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status or foreign citizenship are not eligible, even if they are currently studying in India. There is no provision for PIO or OCI applicants under the current Sainik Schools Society guidelines.

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Domicile and Quota Rules

Seats in each Sainik School are distributed across three quota categories. Your domicile determines which quota applies to your application and which schools you can target most competitively.

Key domicile and quota rules:

• Domicile is determined by your parents’ state of residence or their service posting — not the location of your current school.
• Defence quota applicants must submit a valid Service Certificate or Discharge Book during document verification.
• SC/ST reservations are applied within each quota category as per central government norms.
• You may apply to multiple Sainik Schools in a single AISSEE application cycle, selecting the appropriate quota for each.
• A State Domicile Certificate issued by a competent authority is required for State Quota claims at the time of admission.

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Medical Fitness Standards

Clearing the AISSEE written examination does not guarantee admission — every student must also pass a medical fitness examination before a final seat is allotted. The medical test is conducted by the Medical Board at the Sainik School to which the student is provisionally selected.

General medical fitness standards include:

• Vision: Uncorrected or corrected visual acuity must meet the school’s prescribed threshold; significant squinting may be a disqualification.
• Height and Weight: Must be within the age-appropriate range prescribed by the Sainik Schools Society.
• General Health: Students with chronic illness, major disability, or any condition that prevents full participation in physical training and the school’s NDA-preparatory programme may be declared unfit.
• Hearing: Normal hearing is required; significant hearing loss is generally disqualifying.

Detailed medical standards are published in the official AISSEE notification each year. Students with any pre-existing health condition should review the official medical standards carefully before applying.