The Maharashtra government has issued a strict warning to government-aided Sainik Schools across the state, instructing them to improve their students’ success rates in the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exams or face losing state support. Concerned by the declining number of NDA admissions from these military-preparatory institutions, the government has formed a seven-member expert committee to review existing policies and recommend corrective measures.
The committee is headed by Anil Sable, Deputy Director of the State Secondary and Higher Secondary Board, and includes members from reputed institutions such as Sainik School Satara and Bhonsla Military School, Nagpur.
Maharashtra currently has two state-run Sainik Schools—Satara (established in 1961) and Chandrapur (launched in 2019)—and 38 government-aided, privately managed Sainik schools, collectively enrolling around 12,400 students. These schools are meant to prepare young students for careers in the Indian Armed Forces, with admission to the NDA in Pune seen as a key metric of their success. However, only a handful of schools consistently send students to the NDA, with even Satara’s flagship school witnessing a recent drop in performance despite having produced around 750 officers historically.
The private-aided model was introduced in 1995 to expand the Sainik school ecosystem, but many institutions under this arrangement have failed to deliver on their core objective. A revised policy implemented in October 2024 now requires that all eligible students appear for the NDA exam and mandates that schools provide infrastructure and coaching support. Land grants—some up to 30 acres—have been given to 12 such schools on the condition of consistently producing NDA qualifiers.
Under the new policy, schools that fail to meet expectations may lose their Sainik school status and funding, be converted into unaided private schools, or face land repossession by the government. While emphasizing accountability, the government has also assured school operators that their difficulties will be heard. The expert panel will engage with stakeholders to determine what additional support is needed to boost results.
The findings of the committee are expected to shape a revamped strategy aimed at increasing Maharashtra’s contribution to the NDA and, by extension, to national defense preparedness.
