RMS CET 2026
How does RMS CET 2026 work for Class 6 and Class 9 admission to the Rashtriya Military Schools, and is my child eligible?
RMS CET is the entrance test for the five Rashtriya Military Schools at Chail, Ajmer, Dholpur, Belgaum and Bengaluru. The Ministry of Defence runs these schools and they follow the CBSE syllabus. NTA sets and marks the written test; the Army Education Directorate decides eligibility, runs the medical and the interview, and admits. For the 2027-28 session the test is on Sunday 13 December 2026, on paper with an OMR sheet, and wrong answers cost nothing. Class 6 is open to children born from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2017, and Class 9 to children born from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2014. After the written test come a medical at a military hospital and an interview at one of the schools. The final list adds the written and interview marks, and every seat is a boarding seat.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 1 April 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Forms for RMS CET 2026 close on 20 October 2026 (late fee window to 25 October). The written test is on 13 December 2026; NTA will announce answer keys and the Stage I result (January 2027) on exams.nta.nic.in/rmscet.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- NTA sets the written test; the Army Education Directorate (Ministry of Defence) runs eligibility, medical, interview and admission[1]
- Schools
- Five: Chail (Himachal Pradesh), Ajmer and Dholpur (Rajasthan), Belgaum and Bengaluru (Karnataka)[1]
- Classes
- Class VI and Class IX, for boys and girls; boarders only, no day scholars[1]
- Class VI birth dates
- 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2017, both days included[1]
- Class IX birth dates
- 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2014, both days included[1]
- Written test
- Sunday 13 December 2026, 2 hours 30 minutes, OMR sheet, no negative marking[1]
- Form deadline
- 20 October 2026, 5 PM; with the ₹500 late fee, 25 October 2026, 5 PM[2]
- Selection
- Written test, then medical, then interview; final merit = written + interview marks[1]
- Joining
- 1 April 2027[1]
Class VI: what counts in the final merit list
RMS CET 2026: from form to joining
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Minimum to qualify |
|---|---|---|---|
| English (qualifying only, not added to merit) | 50 questions | 50 marks | 35% |
| Intelligence Test | 50 questions | 50 marks | 40% |
| Mathematics | 50 questions | 50 marks | 40% |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 50 questions | 50 marks | 40% |
| Interview (after the medical) | - | 20 marks | - |
One paper of 2 hours 30 minutes, set at Class V level, printed in English and Hindi. English must be cleared but its marks are left out of the final merit list.[1]
| Part | Subjects | Marks | Minimum to qualify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | English (50 questions), Hindi (20), Social Science (30) | 100 marks | 50% |
| Paper 2 | Mathematics (50 questions), Science (50) | 100 marks | 50% |
| Interview (after the medical) | - | 50 marks | - |
2 hours 30 minutes in all, set at Class VIII level, printed in English only.[1]
| Category | Share of seats |
|---|---|
| Wards of JCOs and other ranks (serving or retired; Army, Air Force, Navy) | 70% of seats |
| Wards of commissioned officers (serving or retired; Army, Air Force, Navy) | 20% of seats; unfilled seats go to civilians the same year |
| Civilians (includes paramilitary, police and defence civilians) | 10% of seats |
Inside each category: OBC (non-creamy layer) 27%, SC 15%, ST 7.5%, with unfilled reserved seats moving to unreserved. 50 seats (no more than 15 in one school) are kept for wards of personnel killed in action. Girls: in Class VI, 10% of seats or 30 seats, whichever is less, across the five schools; in Class IX, 10% of seats.[1]
| Order | Class VI | Class IX |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Higher Mathematics marks | Higher Mathematics marks |
| 2nd | Higher Intelligence Test marks | Higher Science marks |
| 3rd | Higher General Knowledge marks | Higher English marks |
| 4th | Higher English marks | Higher Social Science marks |
| 5th | Higher interview marks | Higher Hindi marks |
Source[1]
| Parent's category | Tuition fee | Caution money |
|---|---|---|
| Other ranks, Army, Navy, Air Force (incl. ex-servicemen) | ₹12,000 per year | ₹1,200 once |
| JCOs, Army, Navy, Air Force (incl. ex-servicemen) | ₹18,000 per year | ₹1,800 once |
| Commissioned officers (incl. retired) | ₹32,000 per year | ₹3,800 once |
| Civilians | ₹51,000 per year | ₹6,000 once |
| SC and ST (any category) | 25% of the fee for the parent's category, per year | ₹6,000 once |
Paid to the school at admission. Caution money is returned without interest when the cadet leaves. Wards of officers, JCOs and other ranks killed in action pay no fee. Every cadet also needs at least ₹10,000 in a pocket-money account.[3]
They are English-medium, co-educational boarding schools for Classes VI to XII, run under the Ministry of Defence and affiliated to CBSE. The first opened in 1925. The stated aim is to give a good education and prepare cadets to join the Defence Services as officers, and the schools prepare cadets for UPSC's National Defence Academy exam alongside the Class 10 and Class 12 boards.
After Class 10 the schools teach only the Science stream, and NCC is compulsory for every cadet. The sample routine in the prospectus starts with physical training at 6:00 AM and ends with lights out at 10:45 PM, with classes from 8:50 AM to 1:30 PM, games in the afternoon and two study periods in the evening.[3]
- It suits a child who is ready to live away from home from about age 10 (Class VI) or 13 (Class IX), and a family that wants a structured school with a defence-officer aim.
- It is a poor fit for a child who wants Commerce or Arts in Class 11, because only Science is taught after Class 10.
- Moving between the five schools is rare: transfers are allowed only for set reasons (an ex-serviceman parent nearer home, a real brother in the other school, medical grounds), and never once a cadet is in Class IX or above.
- Leave in the middle of a term is normally not given.
Source[3]
For Class VI the child must have passed Class V, or be in Class V and pass before joining. For Class IX the child must have passed Class VIII from a government or recognised school before joining. The bulletin says some knowledge of English helps, since English is the medium of teaching.
Age is counted on 31 March 2027 and the birth-date windows are fixed: 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2017 for Class VI, 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2014 for Class IX. Wards of personnel killed in action get six more months on the upper age limit.
The only proof of birth date accepted is a birth certificate from a Municipal Corporation or an authorised local government body. One from a Gram Panchayat or any other local body is not accepted. If the birth date or other details differ between the records and the school leaving certificate, the candidature becomes void. Class, gender, date of birth and category cannot be changed after the form is submitted.
OBC creamy-layer families apply as General. Wards of paramilitary forces, police personnel and defence civilians apply as civilians.[1]
- Stage I, written test (13 December 2026). NTA declares the result in January 2027 with category-wise cut-off marks, and you see your marks in your NTA login.
- Stage II, medical. Shortlisted children are examined at the military hospital chosen in the form, under the AFMSF-2 norms. The hospital cannot be changed later, and a child found unfit is not admitted.
- Stage III, interview at one of the five schools: 20 marks for Class VI, 50 for Class IX. Travel is at your own cost.
- Stage IV, final merit. Written and interview marks are added for medically fit candidates, category by category, and schools are allotted by merit and vacancy. Joining is on 1 April 2027.
Source[1]
Class VI questions are set at Class V level. English covers grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, articles, prepositions), vocabulary and comprehension passages. The Intelligence Test covers analogy, series, coding-decoding, direction sense, blood relations, ranking, clocks and calendars, and non-verbal reasoning. Mathematics runs from number systems, fractions, LCM and HCF to percentage, profit and loss, simple interest, time, speed, measurement and basic geometry. General Knowledge covers India's states and union territories, the defence forces, national symbols, sports, science in daily life, environment and current affairs.
Class IX questions are set at Class VIII level: English grammar and comprehension, Hindi grammar (sandhi, samas, muhavare and the like), Mathematics up to linear equations, mensuration, exponents, compound interest and data handling, Science from force and friction to cells, microorganisms and acids, bases and salts, and Social Science from the Class VIII history, civics and geography books.[1]
A seat means Classes VI or IX to XII at a CBSE boarding school, with Science after Class 10 and preparation for the NDA exam. It does not mean a place in the forces: NDA is a separate UPSC exam taken around Class 12, followed by the Services Selection Board and a medical. Our defence pathway explains that later step.[1]
Tips and tricks
- Look at who issued the birth certificate before anything else. If it came from a Gram Panchayat, it will not be accepted, and the window to apply is short.[1]
- Compare the name and birth date on the birth certificate with the school records now. A mismatch with the school leaving certificate can cancel the candidature even after selection.[1]
- In Class VI, English only has to be cleared at 35%, but each of the other three subjects needs 40%. A weak score in any one of them ends the attempt, whatever the total.[1]
- Mathematics breaks ties first in both classes, so on equal totals the child with more Maths marks gets the seat.[1]
- Pick a medical hospital you can reach easily. There is no travel allowance for the medical or the interview, and the choice is final.[1]
- Ignore anyone who offers a seat for money. The bulletin says neither NTA nor the Army has agents, and selection is on merit only.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the age limit for RMS CET 2026 Class 6?
The child must be born between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2017, both days included, which means 10 to 13 years on 31 March 2027. Wards of personnel killed in action get six more months on the upper limit.[1]
What is the age limit for RMS CET 2026 Class 9?
Born between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2014, both days included, so 13 to 16 years on 31 March 2027. The child must also have passed Class VIII from a government or recognised school before joining.[1]
Can girls apply for RMS CET?
Yes. Both classes are open to boys and girls. In Class VI, 10% of seats or 30 seats, whichever is less, are kept for girls across the five schools; in Class IX, 10% of seats.[1]
Can a civilian's child get admission in a Rashtriya Military School?
Yes. 10% of seats are for civilians, and seats left over in the officers' 20% share can go to civilians in the same year. Children of paramilitary, police and defence civilian staff apply as civilians.[1]
Is there negative marking in RMS CET?
No. The 2026 bulletin says there is no negative marking.[1]
What are the qualifying marks in RMS CET?
For Class VI: 35% in English and 40% in each of Intelligence Test, Mathematics and General Knowledge. For Class IX: 50% in Paper 1 and 50% in Paper 2.[1]
Is the RMS CET paper in Hindi?
The Class VI paper is printed in English and Hindi. The Class IX paper is in English only. If a translated question is unclear, the English version counts.[1]
Does clearing the written test mean my child gets a seat?
No. The child must also pass the medical, sit the interview and rank high enough in their category for a vacancy, and the documents are checked at admission.[1]
Connected pages
- Related · PathwayDefence after Class 12How to become an officer after Class 12 in India: the UPSC NDA and Naval Academy exam, which stream each wing takes, the age window, the SSB and training.
- Related · CBSE board toolMoving to a CBSE school: board-switch, direct admission and TC rulesCan your child join a CBSE school in Class 9, 10, 11 or 12 from another school or board? The rule for each class, the 31 August date and how the TC is signed.
- Related · ExamRIMC Entrance Exam December 2026 (RIMCEE)RIMCEE on 6 December 2026: the new 12½ to 14 age band (born 2 July 2013 to 1 January 2015), the Class VII rule, three papers and the 50% pass mark.
Official and partner links
- Official bodyNTA RMS CET portal (official)
- Official bodyRashtriya Military Schools (official website)
Sources
- Information Bulletin: Rashtriya Military Schools Common Entrance Test 2026 (RMSs CET-2026), revised copy uploaded 15 October 2026, National Testing Agency. Ch. 1 paras 3-5 (pp. 4-5), Ch. 2 (p. 6), Ch. 3 paras 1-13 (pp. 7-10), Ch. 4 paras 41-42, Ch. 5 paras 13-19, Ch. 6 (pp. 27-29), Ch. 7 (pp. 30-33), Appendix A. Accessed 17 October 2026.
- Public Notice: Inviting Online Application Form for RMS CET-2026 (23 September 2026), National Testing Agency. p. 1 (dates, cities, age, fee table). Accessed 17 October 2026.
- Common Prospectus for Admission to Rashtriya Military Schools, Class VI and IX, Academic Session 2027-2028 (e-Prospectus 2026), Rashtriya Military Schools (Ministry of Defence), via NTA. Paras 1-3, 16, 18-23, 28. Accessed 17 October 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 17 October 2026.