The age limit is the first thing to check before applying for Sainik School. It does not matter how well your child scores — if the date of birth falls outside the allowed range, the application gets rejected during document verification. This article covers every age-related rule for AISSEE ↗ 2027 so you can plan clearly and avoid any last-minute surprises.
Who Conducts AISSEE and When Does It Happen?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE) every year. The exam is held in January. Based on the past pattern, the AISSEE 2027 notification is expected in September or October 2026, with the application window opening around the same time. The exam for admission to the academic year 2027–28 will likely be held in January 2027.
Always verify dates on the official NTA portal: exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society
Sainik School Age Limit for Class 6 — AISSEE 2027
For Class 6 admission through AISSEE 2027, a student must be between 10 and 12 years of age as of 31 March 2027.
This means the student's date of birth must fall between:
01 April 2015 and 31 March 2017 (both dates inclusive)
If your child was born even one day before April 1, 2015, or one day after March 31, 2017, they are not eligible for AISSEE 2027 Class 6 admission.
| Detail | Class 6 — AISSEE 2027 |
|---|---|
| Age Required | 10 to 12 years |
| Age Calculated As Of | 31 March 2027 |
| Date of Birth — From | 01 April 2015 |
| Date of Birth — To | 31 March 2017 |
| Both Dates | Inclusive |
| Gender | Boys and Girls both eligible |
| Academic Qualification | Passed or appearing in Class 5 |
Sainik School Age Limit for Class 9 — AISSEE 2027
For Class 9 admission through AISSEE 2027, a student must be between 13 and 15 years of age as of 31 March 2027.
This means the student's date of birth must fall between:
01 April 2012 and 31 March 2014 (both dates inclusive)
| Detail | Class 9 — AISSEE 2027 |
|---|---|
| Age Required | 13 to 15 years |
| Age Calculated As Of | 31 March 2027 |
| Date of Birth — From | 01 April 2012 |
| Date of Birth — To | 31 March 2014 |
| Both Dates | Inclusive |
| Gender | Boys eligible. Girls subject to seat availability |
| Academic Qualification | Passed or appearing in Class 8 from a recognised school |
Is There Any Age Relaxation?
No. There is no age relaxation for any category. This rule applies equally to General, OBC, SC, ST, and Defence/ex-servicemen category candidates. If a student does not fall within the birth date range, NTA rejects the application. No exceptions are made at any stage of the process.
Year-Wise Age Limit Reference Table
Parents whose children are currently in Class 3 or 4 often ask — "When should my child appear?" This table makes it simple.
| AISSEE Year | For Class 6 — Date of Birth Range | For Class 9 — Date of Birth Range |
|---|---|---|
| AISSEE 2025 | 01 Apr 2013 – 31 Mar 2015 | 01 Apr 2010 – 31 Mar 2012 |
| AISSEE 2026 | 01 Apr 2014 – 31 Mar 2016 | 01 Apr 2011 – 31 Mar 2013 |
| AISSEE 2027 | 01 Apr 2015 – 31 Mar 2017 | 01 Apr 2012 – 31 Mar 2014 |
Girls — Age Limit and Eligibility
Girls follow the exact same age rules as boys for Class 6. Both are fully eligible. For Class 9, girls can apply but admission is subject to seat availability at individual Sainik Schools. The age bracket remains the same — 13 to 15 years as of 31 March 2027.
Educational Qualification Required
Age alone is not enough. The student must also meet the academic requirement.
For Class 6: The student must be studying in Class 5 or must have passed Class 5 from a recognised school at the time of admission.
For Class 9: The student must have passed Class 8 from a recognised school at the time of admission.
Nationality Requirement
Only Indian citizens can apply for AISSEE. Students holding citizenship of any other country are not eligible. This rule applies to both Class 6 and Class 9 admissions.
Seat Reservation Structure
Sainik School admissions follow a defined reservation policy. Here is how seats are distributed:
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| Home State / Domicile | 67% of seats |
| Other State Candidates | 33% of seats |
| Defence / Ex-Servicemen (within above) | 25% of seats |
| Scheduled Caste — SC | 15% of seats |
| Scheduled Tribe — ST | 7.5% of seats |
Note: There is no minimum qualifying marks requirement for SC/ST candidates at regular Sainik Schools. They are selected based on merit within their category. However, for New Sainik Schools, the minimum qualifying marks rule of 25% per subject and 40% in aggregate applies to all candidates including SC/ST.
New Sainik Schools — Age Rules
New Sainik Schools currently offer admission only at the Class 6 level. The age limit is the same — 10 to 12 years as of 31 March 2027. There are two routes for applying to New Sainik Schools:
The 60% route is for outside students who are not already studying in the New Sainik School. The 40% route is for students already enrolled in that New Sainik School and appearing in Class 5.
For both routes, the date of birth must fall between 01 April 2015 and 31 March 2017 for AISSEE 2027.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
Many parents miss the age window because they calculate the age on the date of the exam instead of March 31. The correct reference date is always 31 March of the year the exam is conducted — not the exam date itself.
Another common mistake is using the school leaving certificate date of birth instead of the government-issued birth certificate. Always verify your child's date of birth on the official birth certificate issued by a municipal authority before applying.
Documents Needed to Prove Age
At the time of document verification, you will need one of the following to prove your child's date of birth:
Birth certificate issued by Municipal Committee, Municipal Corporation, or Panchayat. Transfer certificate from the previous school with date of birth mentioned. Migration certificate issued by the previous school. Any government-issued birth record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the age limit the same for boys and girls? Yes. The age bracket is identical for boys and girls — 10 to 12 years for Class 6 and 13 to 15 years for Class 9 as of 31 March 2027.
Q. Can my child appear in AISSEE 2027 if they turn 12 on 1 April 2027? No. The age is calculated as of 31 March 2027. If your child turns 12 on 1 April 2027, they are considered 11 on 31 March 2027 and are still within the eligible range. But if your child turned 13 before 31 March 2027, they are over the Class 6 age limit.
Q. Is there any age relaxation for Defence category students? No. There is no age relaxation for any category including Defence and ex-servicemen. The age limit is strictly non-negotiable.
Q. My child is currently in Class 4. When should they appear for AISSEE? If your child is in Class 4 in the 2026–27 academic year, they will be in Class 5 in 2027–28. They can appear in AISSEE 2028 for Class 6 — provided their date of birth falls within the eligible range. Check the NTA notification carefully when it releases.
Q. Where can I confirm the official age criteria? Always confirm on the official NTA portal: exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society. The Information Bulletin released with each year's notification contains the exact and legally binding age criteria.
