Chandigarh is on the verge of a historic milestone in its education landscape. The city’s first Sainik School is now just one approval away from becoming a reality after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured support for the proposal during a meeting with Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria in New Delhi. The assurance has injected fresh momentum into a project that has steadily progressed over the past several months.
The proposal aims to establish the prestigious institution at the 16-acre campus of Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 23. The campus was identified after a detailed feasibility study conducted in June 2025. Officials carefully examined policy guidelines laid down by the Sainik Schools Society and assessed the infrastructure before moving forward with the application process.
An Evaluation Committee visited GMSSS-23A on November 21, 2025, to conduct an on-ground inspection. The panel included the Deputy Commissioner as Chairman, the Principal of Sainik School Kunjpura, and the Principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. The team reviewed classrooms, hostel facilities, mess arrangements, kitchen standards, academic preparedness, and administrative systems. After thorough scrutiny, the proposal was found complete and suitable. All required documents were submitted in time, and officials confirmed that the application met prescribed norms.
The journey began on June 15, 2025, when a feasibility committee was constituted. Within days, meetings were held under the Director of School Education to chart out the roadmap. The Principal of GMSSS-23 submitted the online application along with the registration fee on July 11, followed by a formal submission on July 12. Before finalising the campus, officials also visited PPP-model Sainik Schools in Nalagarh and Kurukshetra to study operational frameworks and best practices.
If approved, the Chandigarh Sainik School will admit students in Classes VI and IX through the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination conducted by the National Testing Agency. The fully residential, CBSE-affiliated institution will blend academic rigor with structured military training, discipline, leadership development, and value-based education. The intake is expected to range between 40 and 80 students per class. The school will operate under a self-financed model with a principal-led administrative structure supported by 17 teaching posts.
During his meeting with Kataria, Rajnath Singh assured that the proposal would receive due consideration. The UT Administrator strongly advocated for the school, underlining its role in nurturing disciplined and service-oriented youth. Beyond education, the meeting also covered national security concerns. Both leaders discussed strengthening border vigilance, particularly to curb smuggling of narcotics and weapons through drones, and emphasized modernising anti-drone systems to reinforce security infrastructure.
For Chandigarh, the establishment of a Sainik School would mark a significant chapter. The city currently does not host such an institution. Approval would place it among select regions entrusted with grooming future leaders for the armed forces and other national services. Sainik Schools across the country have built a reputation for producing officers for the National Defence Academy and shaping disciplined citizens committed to public service.
All technical evaluations in Chandigarh’s case have been completed. Infrastructure standards have been met, and documentation stands verified. The proposal now awaits the final nod from the Ministry of Defence through the Sainik Schools Society. Once cleared, admission notifications are expected to follow soon after.
Chandigarh stands at the threshold of a transformative addition to its education ecosystem. With the Centre’s assurance and groundwork firmly in place, the city’s first Sainik School appears closer than ever to welcoming its inaugural batch of cadets.