Rashtriya Military Schools (RMS), residential English-medium public schools administered by the Ministry of Defense, are accepting applications for the 2026-27 academic session for classes VI and IX. These schools, among the oldest in India, admit wards of both defence personnel and civilians, following a competitive entrance process.
About Rashtriya Military Schools
- RMS are fully residential schools under the Ministry of Defence.
- They offer education in English medium from Class VI to XII.
- These schools are founding members of the Indian Public Schools’ Conference (PSC).
- There are five RMS locations:
- Chail (Himachal Pradesh)
- Ajmer (Rajasthan)
- Dholpur (Rajasthan)
- Belgaum (Karnataka)
- Bengaluru (Karnataka)
Eligibility Criteria
- Classes Available: VI & IX.
- Age requirements:
- Class VI: 10–12 years as of 31 March 2026. (Born between 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2016)
- Class IX: 13–15 years as of 31 March 2026. (Born between 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013)
- Six months relaxation in upper age for wards of personnel killed in action.
- Educational qualification:
- For Class VI: Should have passed (or be studying in) Class V.
- For Class IX: Should have passed Class VIII from a recognised school.
- Knowledge of English is preferred.
Admission Process
- Common Entrance Test (CET) for Class VI & IX, conducted under Integrated Headquarters of MoD (Army).
- The exam is OMR-based.
- Written examination:
- Class VI exam is generally at Class V standard.
- Class IX exam is generally at Class VIII standard.
- Class VI exam is bilingual (English & Hindi); Class IX exam is in English only.
- Subjects & minimum qualifying marks:
- Class VI: English (qualifying only), Intelligence Test, Mathematics, General Knowledge & Current Affairs. Minimum marks vary (e.g. 35% required in English qualifying, 40% in others).
- Class IX: Two papers covering English, Hindi, Social Science; Mathematics, Science; plus an interview. Minimum 50% in written papers.
Reservation & Seats
- Categories for admission:
- Entitled category (JCOs / OR, serving & retired): 70% of seats.
- Non-Entitled category (Officers serving & retired): 20%.
- Civilians: 10%.
- Unfilled seats may be offered across categories in the same year.
- Other reservation policies:
- OBC (non-creamy layer): 27%
- SC: 15%
- ST: 7.5%
- Killed in Action (KIA): Up to 50 seats (not exceeding 15 per school) reserved for wards of KIA personnel.
- Girls’ reservation:
- Class VI: 10% seats or a maximum of 30 seats (whichever is less), across all schools.
- Class IX: 10% across all RMSs.
Important Dates & Forms
- Application window: Online applications open from 10 September 2025 (10:00 AM) to 9 October 2025 (08:00 PM).
- The written exam date will be informed to registered candidates via email/SMS.
Fees, Scholarships & Financial Support
- Tuition fees and caution money vary by category: civilian, non-entitled, entitled, SC/ST, etc. For example, civilians pay higher fees than entitled categories. Caution money is submitted once and refundable (without interest) when the student leaves.
- Scholarships: Up to 15% of the non-entitled cadets (officers’ wards and civilians) can receive means-cum-merit scholarships:
- Full tuition waiver if parent-income ≤ ₹3,00,000/year.
- Half-rate fees if income is > ₹3,00,000 but ≤ ₹4,50,000/year.
Key Takeaways
- All admissions are boarders only – no day-scholar option.
- Admission depends on performance in the CET, availability of seats.
- Applicants need to ensure correct documentation, especially birth certificate from recognized bodies; any discrepancy can lead to cancellation of candidature.
