There's one thing that trips up more families than a tough exam paper. It's not the syllabus. It's not the medical test. It's missing a registration deadline they didn't even know had changed.
If your child cleared AISSEE ↗ 2026 - congratulations. Genuinely. That's a hard exam and they worked for it. But right now, the clock is running on something just as important: AISSAC e-counselling registration.
Here's everything that has happened with the dates, and what you need to do.
How the AISSAC 2026 Timeline Has Unfolded
The AISSAC 2026 registration process started on 22 January 2026.That was earlier than usual - in previous years, counselling typically opened after results. This time, the Sainik School Society gave families a head start.
A public notice issued on 21 February 2026 officially confirmed that the Registration and Correction Window was extended and remained open up to 1000 hours on 28 February 2026.
Then came another update that many parents missed entirely.
The registration, correction, and choice filling window was reopened from 30 March 2026 at 05:00 hrs to 01 April 2026 at 23:50 hrs - described officially as the final opportunity for AISSEE-2026 qualified candidates.
That's three windows. Original opening. First extension. Then a final reopen. If you blinked, you may have missed one.
Why These Extensions Keep Happening
Every year, the same situation plays out. Parents assume their child's AISSEE qualification automatically moves things forward. It doesn't.
Without registering on the AISSAC portal, no candidate will be considered for seat allocation - even if they qualified in AISSEE. Registration is mandatory. There are no exceptions, no appeals after the fact, and no second chances once the final window closes.
The extensions happen because thousands of families miss the original deadline. Some had technical issues with the portal. Some didn't receive the OTP. Some simply weren't aware that registration had already begun. Candidates and parents were advised to complete the registration process well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical or connectivity issues.
Good advice. The portal does get slow when everyone rushes in on the last day.
What the Round 1 Results Tell Us
Here's something that shows just how far along the process actually is now.
Round 1 online counselling results were declared on 5 April 2026 at 1305 hrs, with detailed instructions for candidates published live on the portal.Some Sainik Schools have already begun calling parents for document verification and reporting formalities.
This means the counselling process is active and moving fast. If you haven't registered yet and the window has closed - check the official portal immediately for any further updates. The Sainik School Society has reopened the window multiple times this year, but there's no guarantee of another extension.
What Happens After Registration
Once you've registered on the AISSAC portal, the next step is choice filling - where you rank up to 10 Sainik Schools in order of preference. Seat allotment is based on rank, gender, category, and domicile.The system works through your list and assigns the highest-preference school where a seat is available for your child's profile.
After seat allotment, selected candidates are called for the medical examination. Only after clearing that does admission get confirmed. Seat allotment does not confirm admission - it is provisional until the medical examination is successfully completed.
So the journey after the AISSEE result has several steps. Miss any one of them, and the whole process stalls.
Key Mistakes to Avoid Right Now
Many families stumble at this stage - not because of their child's rank, but because of avoidable errors.
Don't assume the portal is always open. The windows are short and they close without warning. Check pesa.ncog.gov.in/sainikschoolecounselling every few days.
Don't use agents or third-party websites. Candidates are advised not to trust or engage with any website or agents claiming to facilitate the counselling process.The entire process is free and handled only through the official AISSAC portal.
Don't skip the correction window. If your domicile or gender was entered incorrectly during AISSEE registration, the correction window is your only chance to fix it. Incorrect category or domicile can directly impact seat allotment eligibility.Once the window closes, no changes are allowed.
Don't wait for Round 2 without understanding the risk. If you're allotted a school in Round 1 and choose to reconsider, the previously allotted seat gets cancelled automatically and no further claim is admissible for that school.It's a gamble - sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.
Quick Summary of Key Dates
|
Event |
Date |
|
AISSAC Registration Opened |
22 January 2026 |
|
First Extended Deadline |
28 February 2026 |
|
Registration & Choice Filling Reopened |
30 March - 1 April 2026 |
|
Round 1 Results Declared |
5 April 2026 |
Always verify the latest dates directly on the official portal, as schedules can shift without much advance notice.
The honest truth is this - passing AISSEE is the hard part. Your child already did that. What comes next is paperwork, deadlines, and paying close attention. Don't let something as fixable as a missed registration window undo months of preparation.
Stay updated on every AISSAC 2026 development, choice filling tips, and Sainik School guidance at SainikGuru