AISSEE 2027: 80 New Sainik Schools for Class 6, 40 for Class 9 — What a 'New School' Really Means Before You Apply
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📅 Nov 6, 2026
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⏱️ 5 min read
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📅 Nov 6, 2026
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⏱️ 5 min read
Last verified: 6 November 2026. The counts — Class 6 in 80 approved New Sainik Schools and Class 9 in 40 — are ✅ CONFIRMED from the NTA public notice of 3 November 2026, as reported by Education Times and The Times of India. The application window (3 November to 2 December 2026, up to 11:50 PM) and the exam date (31 January 2027) are ✅ CONFIRMED from the same notice. Anything about an individual school’s fees or facilities is labelled where it appears — those details vary by school and are not in the NTA notice.
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When the NTA notice for AISSEE 2027 came out on 3 November, one line in it surprised a lot of parents: the exam now covers Class 6 admission in 80 approved New Sainik Schools, and Class 9 in 40 of them — on top of the 33 existing Sainik Schools everyone already knows.
That’s a big jump in the number of schools your child can apply to. But it raises the question every parent asks next: what exactly is a “New Sainik School”? Is it the same as the Sainik School in your state capital? Honestly, no — and the difference matters before you fill the form.
The 33 existing Sainik Schools are the older residential schools run directly under the Sainik Schools Society of the Ministry of Defence. The New Sainik Schools are approved private schools that run the Sainik School pattern — the same AISSEE entrance exam, the same broad CBSE curriculum and military-style discipline — in partnership with the Sainik Schools Society. In March 2026 the Defence Minister announced 100 new Sainik Schools in public-private partnership mode, and AISSEE 2027 is the first cycle where the expanded list is open for admission.
But “approved” does not mean “identical.” A New Sainik School in your district might be a strong, well-run school with a proper hostel — or a day school that has only recently added boarding. The NTA notice does not grade them for you. That homework is yours.
1. Class 9 is not available everywhere. Class 6 is open in all 80 New Sainik Schools, but Class 9 in only 40 of them. If your child is in Class 8 now, check the list first — half the new schools simply won’t take a Class 9 application.
2. Fees vary from school to school. The 33 existing schools charge a broadly similar fee structure; New Sainik Schools set their own. 🔶 EXPECTED: check the fee for your shortlisted school in the Information Bulletin or with the school itself before you apply — never assume the old-school fee applies.
3. Facilities and hostels differ. The existing schools are full residential campuses. Some New Sainik Schools are still building boarding facilities. If residential life matters to you — for most parents it is half the point — ask about hostel capacity, food and medical facilities before listing a school as a preference.
Applications close on 2 December 2026 at 11:50 PM; the exam is on 31 January 2027. Before you submit:
One last thing, said plainly: a New Sainik School is not a second-rate option — some of them are excellent. But “new” means you verify more, not less. The 33 old schools have decades of track record you can look up in five minutes. A new school doesn’t — yet.
How many New Sainik Schools are covered in AISSEE 2027? The NTA public notice of 3 November 2026 covers Class 6 admission in 80 approved New Sainik Schools and Class 9 admission in 40 of them, alongside the 33 existing Sainik Schools.
What is the difference between an existing Sainik School and a New Sainik School? The 33 existing Sainik Schools are the older, fully government-run residential schools. New Sainik Schools are approved private schools that run the Sainik School pattern in partnership with the Sainik Schools Society. They follow the same AISSEE entrance exam and the same broad curriculum, but their fees, hostels and facilities vary from school to school.
Can my child apply for Class 9 in a New Sainik School? Only in 40 of the New Sainik Schools. Class 6 admission is available in 80 New Sainik Schools, but Class 9 is offered in only 40 of them, so check the school list in the official Information Bulletin before choosing.
Where do I find the official list of New Sainik Schools for AISSEE 2027? In the AISSEE 2027 Information Bulletin on the official portal, exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society. Do not rely on lists on coaching or third-party websites, which may carry last year’s schools.
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