Sainik School Admissions: Telangana Students Miss Seats
High Scores But No Seats for Telangana Candidates
Several students from Telangana who secured high marks in the Sainik School Entrance Test have not received admission seats, triggering concern among parents and education observers. In some cases, students scoring well above 270 marks out of 300 have still been left out of the final admission list.
For example, students with marks such as 276, 273, 272, 271, and 269 out of 300 have reportedly failed to secure seats. Under normal admission systems, such scores would typically guarantee placement. However, the current admission pattern has left several meritorious candidates without opportunities.
Local Quota Withdrawal Affects Admissions
The main issue appears to stem from the withdrawal of the local status quota for Telangana students in Sainik Schools located in Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana currently does not have a Sainik School within the state. Earlier, when the region was part of undivided Andhra Pradesh, students from Telangana were treated as local candidates for admissions at Sainik School Korukonda and Sainik School Kalikiri. Under that system, they could compete under the local quota.
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Following the bifurcation of the state, the local status benefit continued for a period. However, after nearly a decade since the formation of Telangana, the local quota status for Telangana students in these institutions has reportedly been withdrawn.
Competition Limited to All-India Quota
Sainik School admissions are structured so that 67 percent of seats are reserved for local candidates, while the remaining 33 percent are filled under the All-India quota.
With the removal of local status, Telangana students must now compete only in the 33 percent national quota, drastically reducing their chances of admission. As a result, even candidates with very high scores are missing out on seats.
In contrast, reports indicate that some candidates from Andhra Pradesh have secured seats with marks around 240, as they fall under the local quota category.
Parents Raise Concerns Over Admission Fairness
The Sainik School Entrance Test results were released last week, and the final admission list for 2026 admissions was issued on Tuesday. Parents of several high-scoring students from Telangana say the list does not include many deserving candidates.
Families have expressed disappointment over the situation and say the current system places Telangana students at a disadvantage. Many have urged policymakers to review the quota arrangement.
Appeal to MPs and Union Ministers
Concerned parents have approached Medak MP Raghunandan Rao, who is associated with the Kranti Keen Foundation, seeking intervention in the matter.
They have requested that Members of Parliament and Union ministers from Telangana take up the issue and push for the restoration of local quota benefits or other corrective measures to ensure fair opportunities for students from the state.
The issue has once again highlighted the absence of a Sainik School within Telangana and its impact on students aspiring to join these institutions.
