RIMC Admission Process, Seats and Fees

The Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) at Garhi Cantt, Dehradun, was founded on 13 March 1922. It educates boys and girls from Class 8 to Class 12 in a residential setting and describes itself as a feeder institution to the National Defence Academy. Each year, thousands of families ask the same questions: who can apply, how many seats are there, how is the exam conducted and what does it cost?

This guide answers them from the RIMC website and the RIMC Entrance Examination (RIMCEE) 2026 information bulletin issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA). A recent change matters for every parent: from the December 2026 exam, the application is completely online through the NTA, and application forms are no longer available through RIMC or state governments.

RIMC admission at a glance

Eligibility: age and class

The candidate must be 12½ to 14 years old on the first day of the term. For the July term the date is 1 July, and for the January term it is 1 January. The age band was revised from the December 2026 examination cycle. Read the bulletin for the cycle in which you apply, because the date of birth range changes every time.

The candidate must be studying in Class 7, or have passed Class 7, in a recognised school at the time of admission. The bulletin says admission is based on performance at all the stages of the exam and that all three stages, written exam, viva voce and medical, have to be passed separately.

How to apply through the NTA

For the December 2026 cycle, the online application window ran from 1 to 30 September 2026, with a late-fee window until 7 October 2026, and the correction window from 9 to 11 October 2026. That means this cycle’s registration has closed. The next regular cycle is one to watch: the bulletin gives June as the month for the January term examination and December for the July term. The dates will be announced on the NTA and RIMC websites.

Keep these scanned documents ready, as the RIMC admission page lists them:

• Aadhaar card
• Recent passport-size colour photograph with a white background
• Domicile certificate
• Birth certificate
• Category certificate for SC and ST candidates, where applicable
• School studying certificate
• Serving certificate for Central Government employees, where applicable
• Signature, and left-hand thumb impression, both scanned

The examination fee in the bulletin is ₹1,000 for general candidates, wards of defence personnel and ex-servicemen and OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates, and ₹750 for SC and ST candidates. A late fee of ₹500 applies after the first window.

Exam pattern: what Stage I tests

The written examination is held in pen-and-paper mode. Two papers are descriptive, which means you write your answers, and the General Knowledge paper is multiple choice.

There is no negative marking. The medium is bilingual (English and Hindi) except for the English language questions. A candidate must score at least 50 percent of the total marks in each subject to qualify. The bulletin says the syllabus is aligned with the learning standards of Classes 6 and 7 of the CBSE and NCERT.

Mathematics covers arithmetic, algebra basics, geometry and mensuration: topics like LCM and HCF, ratio and proportion, profit and loss, percentage, simple interest, time and work, area and volume, angles and simple linear equations. The English paper covers unseen passages, a poem, composition, picture writing, formal and informal letters, grammar and vocabulary.

Stage II and Stage III: viva voce and medical

Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for a viva voce of 50 marks, held with the state governments. It tests intelligence, personality and communication skills, and a candidate must secure at least 50 percent of the marks. The bulletin describes a selection board made up of a state government secretary, two military officers, a senior education officer and, where practicable, a member of the state public service commission.

Qualified candidates then undergo a medical examination at selected military hospitals, and only those found fit are considered for admission, subject to merit and vacancies. The bulletin says precise height and weight standards are not laid down, and that the Medical Board is guided by the physical standards for the National Defence Academy.

Seats and vacancies

The NTA bulletin describes a tentative intake of 25 vacancies for boy cadets and 10 for girl cadets per term, on a state-wise merit basis for boys and a zonal basis for girls. RIMC’s admission page says: “Generally, one vacancy per State is allotted. However some States with larger population have up to two vacancies allotted.” Vacancy numbers are provisional and can change, so check the latest notice rather than depending on old figures.

RIMC fees

RIMC fees are subsidised by the Central Government. The bulletin gives the first-year figures below.

The security deposit is refunded when the cadet graduates from the college. The bulletin also says that fees may be revised periodically, and that various state governments grant scholarships to meritorious students.

How to prepare for the RIMC entrance exam

Because the exam follows Class 6 and 7 learning standards, good preparation is about depth and writing practice more than about extra syllabus.

1. Strengthen Mathematics from Class 5. The paper is descriptive, with 30 questions in 90 minutes, so you need accuracy and neat working. Practise showing steps.
2. Write English regularly. Compositions, picture writing and letters need regular practice. Check them with a teacher.
3. Build a General Knowledge habit. Daily news, simple science facts, India’s symbols and personalities appear in the broader topics list.
4. Take timed papers. The exam is 4½ hours long. Practise sitting for long periods.
5. Prepare for the viva. Let your child speak about school, hobbies and current events with confidence. Help with posture, clarity and honesty rather than learnt answers.
6. Keep the child healthy. The medical stage is decisive, so ensure regular check-ups, good food and outdoor play.

What happens after RIMC

RIMC cadets study for five years and take the Class 12 CBSE board examination. They are not automatically admitted to the NDA. According to the bulletin, they must qualify the UPSC written examination and the Services Selection Board interview like other candidates to join the NDA at Khadakwasla for the three-year degree course. Our guide to joining the NDA after 10th and 12th explains that stage. If your child is a girl, see NDA for girls too.

Frequently asked questions

Preparing for RIMC from Dehradun? GS India Defence Academy runs classroom RIMC coaching in Dehradun with separate boys’ and girls’ hostels. Call +91 70170 31757 or message us on WhatsApp to ask about batches.