List of Sainik Schools in India: State-Wise List, Establishment Year and Details

The List of Sainik Schools in India includes 33 established Sainik Schools across different states and Union Territories. The Sainik Schools Society runs these English-medium residential schools under the Ministry of Defence.

Sainik Schools follow the CBSE system and focus on academic education, discipline, physical fitness and leadership. They also prepare students for defence-related career opportunities, including entry to the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Naval Academy.

The Government has also introduced a separate scheme for New Sainik Schools in partnership mode. Therefore, students and parents should distinguish the traditional 33 Sainik Schools from the newer approved partnership schools.

List of Sainik Schools in India

The following table shows the list of 33 established Sainik Schools in India, along with their states and establishment years.

The Ministry of Defence’s official record confirms all 33 schools and their establishment years. The Ministry of Defence published the list of 33 Sainik Schools in India and establishment year through the Press Information Bureau on 10 Dec 2021.

Important Note About New Sainik Schools

The Government has expanded the Sainik School network through a partnership scheme.

Under this scheme, the Sainik Schools Society works with private schools, NGOs and State Government schools. These schools follow the applicable affiliation and admission framework for New Sainik Schools.

The Government and Sainik Schools Society therefore use two categories:

• Existing Sainik Schools: The established network of 33 schools.
• Approved New Sainik Schools: Schools that operate under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme.

The Sainik Schools Society’s current website also separates Existing School and Approved School listings. Because the approved-school list can change, candidates should check the latest official information before applying.

69 New Sainik Schools are actively functioning for Class 6th and 19 for Class 9th as per Sainik School Notification released for academic session 2026-27 and remaining will be operational soon.

What Are Sainik Schools?

Sainik Schools are English-medium residential schools that operate under the Sainik Schools Society, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Defence.

These schools combine academic education with physical activities, discipline, leadership development and character building.

The Sainik Schools Society aims to prepare students for the National Defence Academy, Indian Naval Academy and other officer-training institutions.

Students also receive opportunities to participate in sports, group activities and other programmes that support their overall development.

Which Is the Best Sainik School in India?

No official authority currently declares one school as the best Sainik School in India.

Students and parents can compare schools on several practical factors, such as:

• Academic performance
• NDA and other defence-entry records
• Infrastructure
• Sports facilities
• Hostel facilities
• Location
• School environment
• Student support
• Fee structure
• Available seats

Students should therefore avoid choosing a school only because a website calls it the “best Sainik School”.

A school’s recent performance can provide useful information, but past results do not guarantee future selections.

Which Is the Oldest Sainik School in India?

Five Sainik Schools started in 1961. They are:

1. Sainik School Satara, Maharashtra
2. Sainik School Kunjpura, Haryana
3. Sainik School Kapurthala, Punjab
4. Sainik School Balachadi, Gujarat
5. Sainik School Chittorgarh, Rajasthan

The Ministry of Defence lists all five schools with the establishment year 1961.

Therefore, these five schools form the first group of Sainik Schools established in India.

Among them, Sainik School Kunjpura often attracts attention from students searching for information about old Sainik Schools and NDA selections.

Which Sainik School Has the Most Selections?

Students often search for the Sainik School with the highest NDA selections. However, selection figures need careful comparison because different sources use different years and selection routes.

The Government has published school-wise data for students who joined the Armed Forces through NDA, Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Technical Entry Scheme (TES). Parents and students can check the highest Number of Selections in Sainik Schools for the six-year period from 2016-17 to 2021-22.

Sainik School Ghorakhal recorded an average of 27.57% of cadets joining the Armed Forces through these routes. Sujanpur Tira recorded 20.23%, Satara 19.57%, Chittorgarh 19.35%, Korukonda 19.07% and Kunjpura 17.88%.

However, these figures cover a specific six-year period and only 25 of the 33 schools had eligible cadets for this particular comparison. Eight newer schools had not yet produced eligible candidates for these examinations during that period.

Therefore, readers should not treat these figures as a lifetime ranking of Sainik Schools.

The Government has also recorded historical NDA achievements of Sainik School Kunjpura. An earlier PIB report noted that the school had sent 587 students to the officer cadre of the Armed Forces through NDA up to January 2008.

These historical figures explain why Sainik School Kunjpura remains a popular search term. However, historical selection numbers do not establish a current ranking.

Advantages of Studying in Sainik Schools

Sainik Schools offer students a structured academic and residential environment. Here are some major advantages.

1. Academic Education

Sainik Schools provide regular school education under the CBSE system. Students follow academic subjects along with sports and other activities.

2. Defence Career Exposure

Sainik Schools focus on preparing students for defence-related opportunities. The schools specifically aim to prepare cadets for NDA, Indian Naval Academy and other officer-training institutions.

3. Discipline and Time Management

The structured school routine can help students develop discipline and time-management habits.

4. Physical Training

Students take part in sports and physical activities. These activities can support fitness, teamwork and healthy competition.

5. Leadership Development

Students get opportunities to take part in group activities, competitions and responsibilities. Such activities can help them develop leadership skills.

6. Residential School Environment

Sainik Schools provide residential education. Students live on campus and follow a structured daily routine.

7. Competitive Environment

Students study in an environment that gives them regular exposure to competitive examinations and defence-related career information.

Admission to Sainik Schools

NTA conducts the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE) for admission to Sainik Schools.

The established Sainik Schools generally offer admission at the Class 6 and Class 9 levels. Candidates must meet the applicable age, educational and other eligibility requirements.

NTA publishes the AISSEE application form, information bulletin, admit card, answer key and result through its official website. The NTA AISSEE portal currently provides information about the 2026 examination and admission counselling.

Candidates should always check the latest AISSEE information bulletin before submitting an application because admission rules, vacancies and school choices can change.

Sainik Schools in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has three established Sainik Schools:

• Sainik School Mainpuri
• Sainik School Jhansi
• Sainik School Amethi

The Ministry of Defence lists Mainpuri and Jhansi with an establishment year of 2019 and Amethi with an establishment year of 2020.

The Sainik Schools Society also lists all three among its existing schools.

Students from Uttar Pradesh can therefore consider these schools when they explore Sainik School admission.

Note: UP Sainik School Lucknow and UP Sainik School Gorakhpur are the oldest Sainik Schools in India. They are not considered in list of 33 Sainik Schools in India. UP Sainik Schools run under the UP Sainik Schools Society, with the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh serving as its chairperson.

Parents also read: UP Sainik School Admission Form: Eligibility Criteria and Exam Pattern

Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School Fee Structure

How to Choose a Sainik School?

Parents and students should consider several factors before choosing a Sainik School.

1. Check the school’s official location.
2. Check the latest AISSEE eligibility rules.
3. Check the available Class 6 or Class 9 seats.
4. Check the reservation category that applies to the candidate.
5. Review the school’s academic and sports facilities.
6. Consider the distance from home.
7. Check hostel and other student facilities.
8. Review recent official performance data where available.
9. Check the latest counselling and school-allotment rules.
10. Use official NTA and Sainik Schools Society information before applying.

Students should also avoid relying only on online rankings. Official admission information provides more useful details about eligibility, vacancies and counselling.

Conclusion

The List of Sainik Schools in India includes 33 established Sainik Schools across the country. Satara, Kunjpura, Kapurthala, Balachadi and Chittorgarh form the first group, with all five schools opening in 1961.

Sainik Schools combine academic education with a structured residential environment, physical activities, discipline and leadership opportunities. They also have a long association with NDA and other defence-entry routes.

Students should not rely on a simple “best Sainik School” ranking. Instead, they should compare location, eligibility, vacancies, reservation, facilities and recent official information.

The Government has also expanded the network through New Sainik Schools in partnership mode. Therefore, candidates should check the latest NTA and Sainik Schools Society information before applying.

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