The government has decided to give admissions to girl cadets in Sainik Schools where earlier only boys were allowed. The decision applies to 33 Sainik Schools across India from the academic session 2021-22.

India has 33 Sainik Schools run by Sainik Schools Society under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. The objective of these schools was to prepare the students at an early age for the different defence forces in India.

After the success of the pilot project in Mizoram in 2018-2019, the government has taken the decision to give admission to girl cadets across the country. The Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said that the government is proposing to bring up new schemes for setting up Sainik Schools in India in partnership with private schools, state governments and NGOs.  

As per the written response from Shripad Naik “The endeavour is to provide schooling opportunities in 'CBSE Plus' type of educational environment by involving desirous government/private schools/NGOs to partner in establishing/aligning their system with Sainik schools ethos, value system and national pride.”