AISSEE Cut Off Marks 2026: Category Wise & State Wise Analysis | Sainik School Coaching

Category-wise, School-wise & State-wise Analysis

The All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE ↗) 2026 was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on 18 January 2026. Results were declared on 27 February 2026, with over 1,78,000 students competing for a limited number of seats across prestigious Sainik Schools.

This guide covers minimum qualifying marks, category-wise and school-wise cut offs, state trends, and next steps for qualified students.

AISSEE 2026 — Quick Overview

Detail	Information
Exam Date	18 January 2026
Result Date	27 February 2026
Classes	Class 6 and Class 9
Total Marks	300 (Class 6) | 400 (Class 9)
Students Appeared	Approximately 1,78,022
AIR 1 — Class 6	Anuradha Amol Budhawant (Maharashtra) — 296 marks
AIR 1 — Class 9	Sahil Kumar Singh (Uttar Pradesh) — 388 marks
Counselling Portal	pesa.ncog.gov.in/sainikschoolecounselling

Minimum Qualifying Marks (Category-wise)

These are the baseline marks every student must meet to be considered for the merit list. Note: Scoring above these minimums does not guarantee admission — actual school-wise cut offs are always higher.

Category	Min. Per Subject	Min. Aggregate	Old Schools
General / OBC / Defence	25%	40%	45%
SC / ST	No minimum	Relative merit	40%
Physically Handicapped	25%	35%	35%
New Sainik Schools (All)	25%	40%	40%

Expected Cut Off — Class 6 (out of 300)

Category	Expected Cut Off	Home State Quota	All-India Quota
General (UR)	220 – 240	Lower	Higher
OBC-NCL	190 – 210	Lower	Higher
SC	160 – 185	Lower	Higher
ST	140 – 165	Lower	Higher
Defence	180 – 205	Lower	Higher
PH	105 – 130	Lower	Higher

Expected Cut Off — Class 9 (out of 400)

Category	Expected Cut Off	Home State Quota	All-India Quota
General (UR)	300 – 350	Lower	Higher
OBC-NCL	260 – 295	Lower	Higher
SC	210 – 245	Lower	Higher
ST	185 – 220	Lower	Higher
Defence	245 – 275	Lower	Higher
PH	140 – 170	Lower	Higher

School-wise Expected Cut Off — Class 6, General Category

Note: These are expected ranges based on 2025 actuals. Official 2026 cut offs will be released on pesa.ncog.gov.in in March–April 2026.

Sainik School	State	Home State (Gen)	All-India (Gen)
Satara	Maharashtra	275 – 280	285 – 290
Chittorgarh	Rajasthan	270 – 278	280 – 285
Rewari	Haryana	250 – 265	268 – 280
Ghorakhal	Uttarakhand	240 – 255	260 – 275
Kazhakoottam	Kerala	245 – 255	258 – 265
Mainpuri	Uttar Pradesh	225 – 240	245 – 258
Kapurthala	Punjab	200 – 230	235 – 250

Home State vs All-India Quota

Every Sainik School reserves 67% of its seats for home state students and 33% for all-India quota. This directly impacts cut off marks — home state applicants face lower competition, while all-India quota students face a higher bar. Always confirm which quota you fall under before comparing scores.

Why Cut Offs Vary Across States

High cut off states (General Class 6 above 250):

• Maharashtra — Large applicant base and strong coaching culture

• Haryana & Punjab — Strong defence background and established networks

• Rajasthan — High participation and competitive exam culture

• Kerala — Consistently high academic standards

Lower cut off schools — Sainik School Kapurthala (Punjab) and schools in Northeast states — typically have more accessible cut offs due to fewer applicants from home states. New Sainik Schools require only 40% aggregate for all categories.

Year-wise Cut Off Trend — Class 6, General Category

Year	Cut Off Range (Gen, Class 6)	Total Marks	Trend
2022	175 – 200	300	Rising
2023	195 – 220	300	Rising
2024	205 – 230	300	Rising
2025	220 – 240	300	Rising
2026 (Expected)	225 – 245	300	Rising

Cut offs have risen consistently every year as applicant numbers grow while seats remain limited. Scoring 240+ for Class 6 (General) significantly improves chances of securing a top school.

What Happens After the Cut Off?

Step	Stage	Details
1	Scorecard Download	Available at exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society/
2	Cut Off Release	School-wise cut off on pesa.ncog.gov.in — March/April 2026
3	E-Counselling	Register on AISSAC portal, fill preferences, seat allotment by rank
4	Medical Examination	Shortlisted candidates report to allotted school for fitness test
5	Final Admission	Document verification, fee payment, admission confirmation