Sainik School Seat Availability and Reservation 2027: Category-Wise Vacancies and Admission Rules

Parents planning to secure admission for their children in a Sainik School should first understand details on Sainik School Seat Availability and Reservation 2027. 

For AISSEE 2027, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has published the seat-availability and reservation details in the official Information Bulletin for the academic year 2027-28. It covers the 33 existing Sainik Schools as well as approved New Sainik Schools, with separate vacancy lists for Class 6 and Class 9.

Scroll down to get the AISSEE seat distribution, category-wise reservation, Home State and Outside State allocation, girls' seats, and the different admission routes for New Sainik Schools in simple language. 

Sainik School Seat Availability 2027: How Many Seats Are Available?

AISSEE 2027 covers Sainik School admissions for the academic year 2027–28. According to the Information Bulletin, admissions are offered for:

• Class 6: 33 existing Sainik Schools and 80 approved New Sainik Schools.
• Class 9: 33 existing Sainik Schools and 40 approved New Sainik Schools that have progressed to Class 9.

There are separate vacancy tables for each class and school category. Vacancies are divided by class, gender, category and, for existing Sainik Schools, Home State and Other States quotas. Refer to AISSEE 2027 information bulletin PDF for detailed understanding.

Sainik School Reservation Policy 2027 for Existing Sainik Schools

For the 33 existing Sainik Schools in India, the reservation system is based on the candidate's domicile, social category and defence background.

The main reservation categories are:

1. Home State / Union Territory quota
2. Other States / Union Territories quota
3. Scheduled Caste (SC)
4. Scheduled Tribe (ST)
5. Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL)
6. Defence category
7. General category

Understand how these AISSEE 2027 reservations work from below.

1. Home State and Other States Reservation

The total seats in an existing Sainik School in India are divided into two major groups:

What is the Home State quota?

The Home State quota is for candidates whose state or Union Territory of domicile is the same as the state or UT where the selected Sainik School is located.

For example, a student domiciled in Kerala who applies for Sainik School Kazhakootam will be considered under the Home State quota.

What is the Other States quota?

Candidates whose domicile is in a different state or UT from the location of their selected Sainik School will be considered under the Other States quota.

For example, a student domiciled in Tamil Nadu who applies for Sainik School Kazhakootam in Kerala will be considered under the Other States quota.

This distinction is important because the merit lists and seat distribution are prepared separately for Home State and Other States candidates.

2. Category-Wise Reservation: SC, ST and OBC-NCL

Within both the Home State and Other States quotas, the following AISSEE 2027 reservation percentages apply:

These percentages are applied within each of the two domicile-based seat groups. For example, the SC reservation is calculated separately within the 67% Home State quota and the 33% Other States quota. The same principle applies to ST and OBC-NCL reservations.

Important for OBC candidates: Only candidates belonging to the Central OBC-NCL list are eligible to select OBC-NCL as their category for AISSEE 2027. Candidates who belong to a state OBC list but are not included in the Central List must select the General category.

Parents should verify their child's eligibility against the Central List published by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) and ensure that the required income criteria are met.

3. Reservation for Defence Personnel and Ex-Servicemen

AISSEE 2027 also provides a reservation benefit for eligible children of serving defence personnel and ex-servicemen.

The reservation is calculated as follows:

• First, SC, ST and OBC-NCL reservations are applied within the Home State and Other States quotas.
• From the remaining seats, 25% are reserved for eligible wards of serving personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, and ex-servicemen.
• The remaining seats are allocated to the General category.

This means the Defence reservation is calculated from the balanced seats after the SC, ST and OBC-NCL allocations, not directly from the total number of seats. Parents claiming this benefit should ensure that the applicable service certificate or ex-servicemen documentation is available.

4. General Category Reservation

After allocating seats for SC, ST, OBC-NCL and eligible Defence candidates, the remaining seats are allotted to General category candidates. General category candidates are also considered under the relevant Home State or Other States quota.

An important point is that candidates belonging to SC, ST or OBC-NCL categories who secure admission through their own merit in the General category will be admitted against a General seat. They will not be counted against their respective reserved category seats.

Sainik School Reservation 2027: Distribution of 100 Seats

To make the Sainik School Reservation 2027 easier to understand, the AISSEE 2027 Information Bulletin provides an example using 100 total seats.

Here is the simplified distribution based on that official illustration:

The 100 seats are first divided into 67 Home State seats and 33 Other States seats. The category reservations are then calculated within each quota.

Reservation for Girls in Sainik Schools

Sainik Schools in India are increasingly providing admission opportunities for girls. AISSEE 2027 allows girls to apply for both Class 6 and Class 9 in existing Sainik Schools, subject to the availability of seats.

However, the reservation arrangement for girls at the Class 6 level has a specific provision.

According to the AISSEE 2027 Information Bulletin:

• One seat per category is allotted for girls' admission.
• At least 10% of the Class 6 strength or 10 seats, whichever is higher, is reserved for girls in each school to accommodate all categories.

For Class 9, girls can apply subject to the availability of vacancies in the respective Sainik School.

Other Important Reservation Rules Parents Should Know

Apart from the main AISSEE 2027 reservation percentages, there are a few additional rules that parents should understand before applying.

1. Maximum Seat Limit for Candidates from Other States

Under the Other States / UT quota, candidates from any individual state or UT cannot be allotted more than 25% of the total vacancies available in that quota, across all categories.

For example, if a Sainik School has 10 seats under the Other States quota, candidates from any one state or UT cannot receive more than 3 seats under the prescribed rounding rule.

2. OBC-NCL Must Be from the Central List

A candidate cannot claim the OBC-NCL reservation merely because they belong to an OBC category in their state. The candidate must be included in the Central OBC-NCL list and meet the applicable income criteria.

3. Defence Category Eligibility

The Defence reservation applies to eligible wards of serving personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, and ex-servicemen.

The AISSEE information bulletin specifically advises wards of Coast Guard and Assam Rifles personnel not to select the Defence category. They must select SC, ST, OBC-NCL or General, as applicable. Their consideration for Defence seats is subject to the specific conditions mentioned in the bulletin.

4. Category Details Must Be Entered Correctly

Parents should enter the correct category, gender and domicile details while filling out the AISSEE application form.

Category changes are not ordinarily permitted after submission, except through the correction window if NTA provides one.

Reservation Policy for Approved New Sainik Schools

The Reservation Policy for Approved New Sainik Schools is different from that of the existing 33 Sainik Schools. Parents should not assume that the 67% Home State and 33% Other States reservation or the same SC, ST, OBC-NCL and Defence reservation percentages automatically apply to approved New Sainik Schools.

For approved New Sainik Schools, the domicile, category and reservation requirements are prescribed by the respective school management and are declared in the vacancies notified for admission.

The AISSEE 2027 Information Bulletin also provides two admission routes for these schools: the 40% route and the 60% route.

Understanding the 40% and 60% Admission Routes

Documents Required to Claim Reservation in Sainik School Admission

Candidates claiming AISSEE 2027 reservation benefits must provide the relevant certificates and supporting documents. The following documents may be required, depending on the candidate's category:

The documents must be uploaded in the prescribed format during the application process wherever required. Original documents will also be checked during admission.

Parents should ensure that the information entered in the application form matches the supporting certificates. Incorrect or unverifiable details may lead to rejection of the candidature or denial of admission.

Read More at:

• What is Sainik School? Benefits and Why It’s Best for Kids
• AISSEE Sainik School Class 6 Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2027
• Sainik School Class 9 Syllabus 2027 - Exam Pattern, Weightage & Topics
• Navodaya vs Sainik School: Which is Better for Your Child in 2027? 
• AISSEE 2027 Notification: Expected Exam Date, Application and Eligibility for Classes 6 & 9
• How to Apply for AISSEE 2027 Online: Step-by-Step Application Guide and Documents Required
• AISSEE 2027 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Qualification and Admission Requirements for Class 6 & 9

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sainik School Seat Availability and Reservation 2027

How many seats are available in Sainik Schools for AISSEE 2027?

The number of seats varies by school, class, gender and category. The AISSEE 2027 Information Bulletin provides separate school-wise vacancy lists for Class 6 and Class 9 in existing Sainik Schools and approved New Sainik Schools. Parents should refer to Appendices VI-A, VI-A1, VI-B and VI-B1 for the exact figures.

What is the reservation percentage in Sainik Schools for 2027?

In the existing Sainik Schools, 67% of seats are reserved for Home State / UT candidates and 33% for candidates from Other States / UTs. Within these quotas, 15% is reserved for SC, 7.5% for ST and 27% for OBC-NCL candidates. Defence reservation is applied to the remaining seats as prescribed in the bulletin.

What is the Home State quota in Sainik Schools?

The Home State quota accounts for 67% of seats in an existing Sainik School. It is applicable to candidates whose domicile state or UT is the same as the state or UT where the selected Sainik School is located.

Can a student from another state apply for a Sainik School?

Yes. Students can apply for Sainik Schools located in states other than their domicile state. They will be considered under the Other States / UT quota, which accounts for 33% of seats in existing Sainik Schools, subject to the applicable merit and reservation rules.

Is there an OBC reservation in Sainik Schools?

Yes. A 27% reservation is provided for eligible OBC-NCL candidates within the Home State and Other States quotas of existing Sainik Schools. Candidates must belong to the Central OBC-NCL list and satisfy the prescribed criteria.

Is there a reservation for SC and ST candidates in Sainik Schools?

Yes. Existing Sainik Schools provide 15% reservation for SC candidates and 7.5% for ST candidates within both the Home State and Other States quotas.

Is there a Defence quota in Sainik Schools?

Yes. A reservation of 25% of the balance seats, after SC, ST and OBC-NCL allocations, is provided for eligible wards of serving personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, and ex-servicemen.

Is there a reservation for girls in Sainik Schools?

Yes. For Class 6, one seat per category is allotted for girls' admission, and 10% of the Class 6 strength or 10 seats, whichever is higher, is reserved for girls in each school. Class 9 admission for girls is subject to vacancy availability.

Are the reservation rules the same for New Sainik Schools?

No. Approved New Sainik Schools follow the domicile, category and reservation requirements prescribed by their respective managements and declared in the admission vacancy details. The 67:33 Home State and Other States reservation should not be assumed to apply to them.

What is the 40% and 60% admission rule in New Sainik Schools?

Under the 40% route (Category A), a minimum of 40% of the seats are filled through the All-India AISSEE merit list. Under the 60% route (Category B), up to 60% of seats may be filled by eligible students already studying in the same approved New Sainik School.

Does qualifying AISSEE guarantee admission to a Sainik School?

No. Qualifying AISSEE does not guarantee admission. Final selection depends on the candidate's merit position, school-wise vacancy, category, gender, domicile, medical fitness and document verification.