Your child cleared the written exam. That is a big moment. But the work is not over. Every qualified student must now go through e-counselling. Miss a single step here and the seat is gone - rank does not matter at that point.
Here is the full AISSEE ↗ 2026 e-counselling story, phase by phase.
What Exactly Is AISSAC?
AISSAC is the All India Sainik Schools Admission Counselling. The Sainik Schools Society runs it under the Ministry of Defence. Every seat - in all 33 old Sainik Schools and 38 approved New Sainik Schools - gets filled through this one portal.
There are no agents involved. No fees to pay. The whole thing happens online.
Official portal: pesa.ncog.gov.in/sainikschoolecounselling
The Full Timeline at a Glance
|
Phase |
What Happened |
When |
|
AISSEE Written Exam |
Exam conducted across India |
18 Jan 2026 |
|
Result Declared |
NTA published scores online |
27 Feb 2026 |
|
Medical List Out |
Shortlisted candidates announced |
2 Mar 2026 |
|
AISSAC Registration Opens |
First window started |
22 Jan 2026 |
|
Registration Extended |
Deadline pushed |
Till 28 Feb 2026 |
|
Registration Reopened |
Second window opened |
30 Mar - 1 Apr 2026 |
|
Choice Filling |
School preference window opened |
April 2026 |
|
Round 1 Result |
Seat allotment announced |
5 Apr 2026, 1:05 PM |
|
Document Verification |
Reporting at allotted school |
9-10 Apr 2026 |
|
Round 2 Onwards |
Further rounds for vacant seats |
April - June 2026 |
Dates for upcoming rounds keep updating. Check here directly: pesa.ncog.gov.in/sainikschoolecounselling/CounsellingSchedule
Phase by Phase - What Actually Happened
Registration started before the result
This surprises many parents. Registration on the AISSAC portal opened on January 22 - weeks before the result came out on February 27. Students logged in using their AISSEE application number and a one-time password sent to their registered mobile. The window was extended twice. First to February 28. Then reopened again from March 30 to April 1 for students who had missed it.
If your child qualified but you never registered on AISSAC - that seat cannot be claimed. Registration is not optional.
Choice filling in April
After registration, the choice filling window opened. Each student could add up to 10 Sainik Schools ranked in order of preference. Once happy with the list, the student clicks "Lock the Choices." That locked list is what drives the seat allotment engine. The system then matches each student's rank, category, domicile, and gender against available seats in the chosen schools.
Round 1 result on April 5
The Round 1 allotment result came out on April 5, 2026, at 1:05 PM. Students who got a seat had to log back into the portal, check the allotted school, and formally accept it before the deadline. Not accepting in time means forfeiting the seat.
Reporting to the school
After Round 1, students had to physically report to their allotted school for document verification and fee payment. Sainik School Amaravathinagar, for example, called Tamil Nadu domicile students on April 9 and other state students on April 10. Every school announces its own reporting window on its website. Parents need to track this individually for their allotted school.
How Many Rounds Will There Be?
AISSAC does not fix a number of rounds in advance. Rounds continue until all seats are filled. Based on past years, there are usually 3 to 4 rounds. Each round opens up seats that were vacated because students declined, failed the medical test, or did not report on time.
If your child was not allotted a seat in Round 1, do not panic. Stay registered and watch the portal. Round 2 and beyond are real opportunities.
Four Rules That Matter Most
First - you must register on AISSAC to get a seat. No registration means no allotment, full stop.
Second - an allotted seat is provisional until the child passes the medical examination at the school and clears document verification.
Third - category cannot be changed at the AISSAC stage. Whatever category was entered during AISSEE registration stays locked.
Fourth - registration and choice filling cost nothing. Do not pay anyone claiming to help with this process