AISSEE 2025 Eligibility Criteria – Age, Qualification, Attempts & Reservation

Before applying for AISSEE All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination 2025-26, it’s important to check the age criteria set by the National Testing Agency. For admission to Class VI, candidates must be between 10 and 12 years of age as of March 31, 2025. This means their birth date must fall between April 1, 2013, and March 31, 2015, inclusive of both dates. For Class IX admission, the age criteria require candidates to be between 13 and 15 years old as of March 31, 2025. Their birth date must therefore be between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2012, inclusive. It is important to note that age limits for AISSEE are strict, and typically no age relaxation is provided for any category of candidates including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, or Persons with Disabilities. Knowing the age rules in advance ensures applicants meet the permitted criteria.

AISSEE All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination 2025-26 offers relaxations for candidates belonging to specific reserved categories as per the National Testing Agency guidelines, primarily in the form of seat reservations. Benefits include reserved percentages of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes Non-Creamy Layer, and wards of Defence personnel. Specifically, 15% of seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes, 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes, and 27% for Other Backward Classes Non-Creamy Layer, as per the central list. Additionally, 25% of the remaining seats are reserved for children of serving personnel including ex-servicemen. A significant 67% of seats are reserved for candidates from the Home State or Union Territory where the Sainik School is located, with 33% allocated for candidates from other states or Union Territories. To avail these benefits, candidates must upload valid and up-to-date category certificates, such as caste certificates, domicile certificates, or defence service certificates, issued by the competent authority, during the online registration process. Verification of these documents will follow the official protocol set by the authority during e-counselling and admission. By understanding and following the process, eligible candidates can make full use of the category-based benefits available for AISSEE.

AISSEE All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination 2025-26 is open exclusively to Indian citizens as per the National Testing Agency rules. Eligibility for Overseas Citizens of India or Persons of Indian Origin cardholders is generally not explicitly mentioned for AISSEE, as Sainik Schools are designed for Indian nationals. Domicile requirements are a crucial aspect of the admission process; 67% of the total seats in each Sainik School are reserved for candidates who hold domicile of the state or Union Territory where the school is located. This home state quota emphasizes the importance of a valid domicile certificate during the application and admission stages. Candidates applying under the other states or Union Territories quota account for the remaining 33% of seats. Guidelines for NRI and foreign applicants are clear: students residing outside India are not eligible for admission through AISSEE. By understanding these rules early, candidates can ensure they meet the required nationality or domicile conditions before applying.

Before preparing for AISSEE All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination 2025-26, it’s essential to know if there’s a cap on the number of attempts. Most national-level examinations typically do not impose a strict limit on the number of attempts, provided the candidate continues to meet the age eligibility criteria. For AISSEE, there is no explicit maximum number of attempts allowed. A candidate can attempt the examination multiple times as long as they fall within the prescribed age bracket for admission to Class VI or Class IX. For instance, a candidate eligible at 10 years for Class VI can appear again at 11, and then at 12, provided they still meet the age cutoff on March 31 of the admission year. Certain categories are not eligible for additional attempts beyond the general age-based eligibility. Being aware of the age-dependent nature of attempts helps applicants plan their preparation strategy effectively.

Can apply for either Class VI or Class IX, but not both, in the same academic year