Sainik School e-counselling merit list 2026: The Sainik School Society has issued the list of candidates shortlisted for the medical examination stage under the Sainik School e-counselling process for admission through AISSEE-2026. The selection has been carried out through the AISSAC portal, which manages the counselling process for admissions across Sainik Schools and New Sainik Schools.Candidates have been shortlisted for the medical examination in a ratio of up to three times the number of vacancies available. The shortlisting has been determined on the basis of inter-se merit, domicile details, AISSAC portal registration, qualification in AISSEE-2026, and the availability of a Sainik School or New Sainik School within the candidate’s domicile state.Criteria used for shortlisting candidatesThe selection list for the medical examination stage has been prepared after considering multiple parameters related to eligibility and ranking. These include the inter-se merit position secured by candidates in the AISSEE-2026 examination and their registration status on the AISSAC counselling portal.The domicile status of applicants has also been taken into account during the shortlisting exercise. Candidates belonging to states that host Sainik Schools or New Sainik Schools are considered for institutions available within their respective domicile states, subject to vacancy positions and merit ranking.In addition, the availability of seats in the relevant institutions has been factored into the preparation of the merit list. Only candidates meeting the eligibility conditions and qualifying in AISSEE-2026 have been included for consideration at this stage of the admission process.Provision for candidates from states without Sainik SchoolsCandidates who registered on the AISSAC portal and qualified in AISSEE-2026 but whose domicile state does not have a Sainik School or New Sainik School are categorised as ‘Other State’ candidates.Such candidates are considered for admission to all Sainik Schools or to New Sainik Schools where vacancies are available. Their candidature is assessed after prioritisation of schools submitted by the applicants during the counselling process.School prioritisation and merit-based shortlistingThe medical examination for candidates in the ‘Other State’ category will be conducted only after the prioritisation of schools is completed. Applicants must indicate their preferred schools on the AISSAC portal as part of the counselling process.Following submission of preferences, the portal will shortlist candidates to specific schools based on the order of school priority provided by them, their All India Ranking, and the inter-se merit list.Candidates will proceed to the medical examination stage only if they are allotted or shortlisted for a particular school through the AISSAC system according to these parameters.
