Many parents hold back from applying to Sainik Schools because the annual fees look high on paper. But here is something most people don't know — a large number of enrolled students pay significantly less than the full fee. The Government of India and state governments both run scholarship programmes for Sainik School students. If your child qualifies, the fee burden can reduce by 25%, 50%, 75%, or even 100%.
This guide covers every scholarship type, who gets it, how much it is, and exactly how to apply.
First — Understand the Fee Structure
Before scholarships make sense, you need to know what the actual fee looks like. Annual fees at old Sainik Schools generally range between Rs 1,30,000 and Rs 1,70,000 per year. This covers tuition, hostel, diet, and miscellaneous charges. New Sainik Schools may have a slightly different fee structure.
Scholarships reduce this amount. In some cases, students from low-income families pay almost nothing.
One Important Fact Parents Often Miss
Sainik Schools do not provide direct institutional scholarships from their own funds. The financial support comes from two external sources — the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the state government of the student's home state. The school facilitates the process but does not guarantee any scholarship. The student must apply separately and submit the right documents.
Clearing AISSEE ↗ does not automatically give your child a scholarship. You have to apply for it after admission.
Three Types of Sainik School Scholarships
1. State Government Scholarship (Income-Based)
This is the most widely available and most valuable scholarship for most families. Every state government provides scholarship support to students from that state who are studying in any Sainik School. The amount depends on the parents' annual income.
The income slab structure commonly followed across states looks like this:
| Parents' Annual Income | Fee Waiver |
|---|---|
| Up to Rs 3,00,000 | 100% tuition fee waiver |
| Rs 3,00,001 – Rs 5,00,000 | 75% tuition fee waiver |
| Rs 5,00,001 – Rs 7,50,000 | 50% tuition fee waiver |
| Rs 7,50,001 – Rs 10,00,000 | 25% tuition fee waiver |
| Above Rs 10,00,000 | No tuition fee waiver |
Note: The exact slabs and amounts vary from state to state. Some states also provide a separate diet subsidy on top of the tuition waiver. Always check your specific state government's notification or contact your Sainik School's accounts department for the exact figures applicable to your state domicile.
2. Ministry of Defence Scholarship (Defence Category)
This scholarship is for children of serving and retired defence personnel. Unlike the state government scholarship, the MoD scholarship amount is the same across all Sainik Schools in India.
| Parent's Rank | MoD Scholarship Per Year |
|---|---|
| Other Ranks (ORs) and NCOs | Rs 32,000 |
| JCOs and Equivalent | Rs 16,000 |
| Officers | Not eligible for this component |
Defence category students can also receive the state government scholarship simultaneously — so the total support can be significantly higher. For example, a student from Odisha whose parent is an Other Rank can receive the state scholarship, MoD scholarship, and diet subsidy combined — totalling over Rs 65,000 per year or more depending on the income slab.
3. Merit-Cum-Means Scholarship (New Sainik Schools — Ministry of Defence Scheme)
For students in new Sainik Schools affiliated with the Sainik Schools Society, the Ministry of Defence runs a merit-cum-means based scholarship. Under this scheme, up to 50% of the class strength can receive a fee support of up to Rs 40,000 per annum. This covers 50% of the fee subject to the Rs 40,000 annual cap.
The scheme runs from Class 6 all the way to Class 12 for eligible students. Selection is based on both merit (performance in AISSEE) and means (family income).
Hostel Subsidy — A Component Many Parents Overlook
On top of the scholarship amounts listed above, the central government also provides a hostel subsidy of approximately Rs 81,000 per year to eligible students living in the hostel. However, a student can avail only one type of scholarship at a time — they cannot combine multiple central government schemes. The hostel subsidy and state scholarship are treated separately.
Who Is Eligible for Sainik School Scholarship?
To be eligible for any Sainik School scholarship, the student must meet all of the following conditions:
The student must have secured admission to a Sainik School through AISSEE. The student must be an Indian citizen. The student must be enrolled and studying in Classes 6 to 12 in a recognised Sainik School. For income-based scholarships, the parents' income must fall within the defined slab. For MoD scholarships, the parent must be a serving or retired defence personnel. Academic performance must remain satisfactory — scholarships can be reviewed or cancelled if attendance or grades fall below the required level.
Documents Required to Apply
Gather these documents before starting the scholarship application. Missing even one document can delay or cancel your application.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Parents' Income Certificate | Issued by competent authority (Tehsildar/SDM) |
| Caste Certificate | For SC/ST/OBC category students |
| Domicile Certificate | To prove home state |
| Admission Receipt of Sainik School | Proof of enrolment |
| Student's Previous Year Marksheet | To establish academic record |
| Bank Account Details (parent/guardian) | For direct scholarship transfer |
| Parent's Service Certificate | For defence category only |
| Discharge Book (for ex-servicemen) | For retired defence personnel |
| Passport-size photographs | As required by the school |
How to Apply — Step by Step
Step 1: Take admission in a Sainik School through the AISSEE process. Scholarship applications open only after admission is confirmed.
Step 2: Contact the school's administrative or accounts office. Ask specifically for the scholarship application form and the list of schemes your child is eligible for based on your state and category.
Step 3: Collect the income certificate from the Tehsildar or SDM office of your district. This is the most important document. Make sure it is current — most schools require a certificate from the current financial year.
Step 4: Fill the scholarship application form carefully. Double-check all details — name, date of birth, bank account number, income figure, and category.
Step 5: Attach all required documents in the format specified by your school. Some schools require self-attested copies. Some require originals during verification.
Step 6: Submit the completed form to the school's accounts department before the deadline. Each school announces its own internal deadline — do not wait for the last day.
Step 7: After submission, the school forwards the application to the state government welfare department or the Ministry of Defence, depending on the scholarship type. Processing time varies.
Step 8: Once approved, the scholarship amount is transferred directly to the bank account provided in the application.
Important Points to Keep in Mind
Scholarship amounts are reviewed every year. If your income changes or your documents are not renewed, the scholarship may be revised or cancelled.
A student can avail only one scholarship at a time from the central government. You cannot combine two central government schemes.
State government scholarships and MoD scholarships can often be availed together. Confirm this with your school's accounts office.
Some states also offer separate clothing benefits or diet subsidies in addition to the tuition waiver. Ask specifically about these.
Students from other states studying in a Sainik School outside their home state may still receive scholarships from their home state government. Several states — including Bihar — have extended scholarship benefits to their domicile students even when studying in Sainik Schools in other states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I get a scholarship automatically after getting selected in AISSEE? No. Selection through AISSEE gives your child a seat. The scholarship is a separate process. You must apply after admission with the required documents.
Q. My child's parent is an Army Officer. Are they eligible for MoD scholarship? Officers are not eligible for the rank-based MoD scholarship component. However, the child may still qualify for state government income-based scholarship depending on the family income.
Q. Which authority issues the income certificate? An income certificate is issued by the Tehsildar, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), or any revenue officer authorised by the state government. Do not use an employer-issued salary slip in place of this certificate — most schools require the government-issued income certificate.
Q. Can my child get scholarship for all years from Class 6 to Class 12? Yes, provided the student continues to meet the eligibility criteria each year and submits renewed documents annually. Scholarship is not a one-time benefit — it is renewed every academic year.
Q. What if my state does not offer a scholarship? All states are expected to have some scholarship mechanism for their domicile students in Sainik Schools. Contact the Sainik School's accounts office or your state education or defence welfare department for the specific schemes active in your state.
Official Contact for Scholarship Queries
For admission and scholarship queries, write to: admission.sss@gov.in
For NTA-related queries: aissee@nta.ac.in
Official Sainik Schools Society website: sainikschoolsociety.in
