Overview

• Applications must be submitted by October 30, 2025, fee payment is due by October 31, and an application-correction window will be available from November 2 to 4.
• The exam will be held in January 2026 in pen-and-paper OMR mode across about 190 cities, running 150 minutes for Class 6 and 180 minutes for Class 9, with Class 6 offered in 13 languages and Class 9 in English.
• The Class 6 paper features 125 multiple-choice questions totaling 300 marks across language, mathematics, intelligence and general knowledge, while the Class 9 paper has 150 questions totaling 400 marks across mathematics, English, intelligence, general science and social science.
• The application fee is Rs 850 for General/OBC/Defence/Ex-servicemen and Rs 700 for SC/ST, and the entire process is online with no physical documents to be sent to NTA.
• Candidates must score at least 25% in each section and 40% overall to qualify, with SC/ST candidates exempt from these minimums, and scores will be used for admissions to 33 established Sainik Schools plus 69 newly approved schools, 19 of which can admit Class 9 in 2026–27.