🔄 Last verified: 28 September 2026 — ✅ CONFIRMED: NTA published its Examination Calendar up to March 2027 on 16 September 2026 (nta.ac.in). All school/defence entrance dates below are tentative — the notice says so explicitly. Dates verified against the official calendar PDF.
Parents preparing children for defence and residential school entrances usually track five different websites. NTA’s official Examination Calendar up to March 2027 (notice dated 16 September 2026, on nta.ac.in) lists proposed dates for every NTA exam through March — including five school and defence entrances.
Here are the five, in calendar order, with what each means for your family right now.
| Exam | Proposed date | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| RIMCEE (RIMC entrance) | 6 Dec 2026 | RIMC Dehradun Class 8 admission, July 2027 term |
| RMS CET | 13 Dec 2026 | Rashtriya Military Schools, Class 6 & 9 |
| Army Cadets College | 4 Jan 2027 | For serving Army personnel — not a school admission route |
| SHRESHTA (NETS) | 10 Jan 2027 | National entrance test for the residential-education scheme for students in targeted areas |
| AISSEE 2027 | 31 Jan 2027 | Sainik Schools & New Sainik Schools, Class 6 & 9 |
Two honest notes. First, every date is tentative — the NTA’s notice says dates “may undergo changes owing to administrative, academic, statutory, logistical or other unforeseen circumstances.” Second, two exams parents often ask about are not on this calendar: the UP Sainik School entrance and JNVST don’t appear among the 14 listed exams — they run through separate channels.
RIMCEE — act this week. Registration closes 30 September 2026 (5 PM) — that’s two days from now — with a late-fee window till 7 October. If your child is applying for RIMC Dehradun’s Class 8 July-2027 term, this is the most urgent item on the calendar. Full details: RIMCEE 2026 registration closes in 3 days.
RMS CET — apply by 20 October. Applications opened on 23 September and close 20 October 2026 (5 PM), with a late window of 21–25 October. The 13 December exam date is ✅ confirmed in the calendar. Full details: RMS CET 2026 applications open.
AISSEE 2027 — wait, but prepare. The 31 January 2027 date is ✅ in the calendar, but the notification hasn’t released — expected in October 2026. Note the gap: RIMC/RMS exams in December, AISSEE end-January. Children applying to both need a plan that sequences revision, not restarts it.
SHRESHTA NETS — watch for the notification. The 10 January 2027 slot is the scheme’s national entrance test for residential schooling. Its own bulletin will define eligibility and the application window — rely on the official scheme portal, not coaching-site summaries.
Army Cadets College (4 Jan 2027) — for serving Army personnel, not a school admission route. Parents can skip this one.
Are the NTA exam calendar dates final? No. The NTA notice of 16 September 2026 states the dates are tentative and may change due to administrative, academic, statutory, logistical or other unforeseen circumstances. Treat them as the official plan, not a guarantee.
Is the UP Sainik School entrance exam on the NTA calendar? No. The UP Sainik School entrance does not appear in NTA’s calendar up to March 2027 — it is conducted separately. Its 2027-28 applications are open; see our UP Sainik School 2027-28 admission coverage.
Has the AISSEE 2027 notification been released? Not yet, as of 28 September 2026. The NTA calendar proposes 31 January 2027 as the exam date, but the information bulletin with the application window, fee and eligibility is still awaited — expected in October 2026.
What is the SHRESHTA NETS exam on 10 January 2027? Per the NTA calendar, SHRESHTA (NETS) is the national entrance test for the government’s Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas scheme, proposed for 10 January 2027. Details will come in its own notification.
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