Last updated: 24 October 2026. The Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, is one of India's most prestigious feeder schools for the National Defence Academy. This page gives parents a quick overview of RIMC: what it is, who can apply, how the RIMCEE entrance exam works, fees, seats for boys and girls, and the key dates for the December 2026 exam (July 2027 term).
RIMCEE Stage-I written exam: 6 December 2026. Applications for this cycle closed on 7 October 2026. Admit cards are released by NTA about 5 to 7 days before the exam on its RIMCEE portal. For the full details, read our complete RIMCEE 2026 guide.
What Is RIMC?
Established on 13 March 1922 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Its main purpose is to prepare cadets for the NDA and the Indian Naval Academy.
Alumni include four Chiefs of Army Staff and two Chiefs of Air Staff, along with many senior officers and winners of the Param Vir Chakra, Victoria Cross and Padma Vibhushan.
Admission is to Class 8, twice a year: the January term (Spring, 17 January to 31 May) and the July term (Autumn, 17 July to 30 November).
A small, selective intake: tentatively 25 boys and 10 girls per term. Teacher-student ratio of about 1:12.5.
Facilities include a 10-bed hospital, a library of about 20,000 books, riding, rifle shooting, mountaineering, aero-modelling, skiing and white-water rafting.
RIMCEE December 2026 at a Glance
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Exam conducted by | National Testing Agency (NTA) for Stage-I; RIMC for viva, medical and admission |
Admission | Class 8, term starting July 2027 |
Date of birth | 2 July 2013 to 1 January 2015 (age 12½ to 14 on 1 July 2027) |
Education | Studying in or passed Class 7 from a recognised school at the time of admission |
Application | 1 September to 7 October 2026 (closed) |
Stage-I written exam | 6 December 2026, 4 hours 30 minutes |
Stage-I result | By 20 February 2027 |
Viva voce | Tentatively April 2027 |
Exam fee | ₹1,000 (General, OBC-NCL, wards of defence personnel and ex-servicemen); ₹750 (SC/ST) |
RIMCEE Exam Pattern
Paper | Type | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
English | Descriptive (pen and paper) | 45 | 125 | 2 hours |
General Knowledge | Objective (MCQ) | 75 | 75 | 1 hour |
Mathematics | Descriptive (pen and paper) | 30 | 200 | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Total | 150 | 400 | 4 hours 30 minutes |
Qualifying marks: at least 50% in each subject. A high score in one subject cannot make up for failing another.
Viva voce: 50 marks, with 25 needed to qualify. It is held by the State Government board and tests intelligence, personality and communication.
Medical examination at a military hospital, guided by NDA standards (for example, uncorrected vision of 6/18 and no LASIK).
Papers are bilingual in English and Hindi, except the English paper. There is no negative marking.
The syllabus follows CBSE/NCERT Classes 6 and 7. Mathematics carries half the total marks, so written practice with full working is essential.
How Seats Are Allotted
RIMC has no caste-based reservation; admission is purely on merit.
Boys: merit is prepared state by state, and seats are allotted against each state's fixed vacancies. Boys from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana compete for their own state's seats.
Girls: an All-India merit list is prepared, and seats are allotted zone-wise. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are in the South Zone with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The domicile state declared in the application decides which list the child is in. Wards of Central Government employees may write the exam at the place of posting but compete against their domicile state.
RIMC Fees
Category | Annual fee | Security deposit (refundable) | First-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
General | ₹98,650 | ₹50,000 | ₹1,48,650 |
SC/ST | ₹81,850 | ₹50,000 | ₹1,31,850 |
Fees are heavily subsidised by the Government of India, and several state governments give scholarships to selected cadets. Fees may be revised, so confirm in the latest bulletin.
RIMC vs Sainik School vs RMS
RIMC | Sainik School | RMS | |
|---|---|---|---|
Entry class | Class 8 | Class 6 and 9 | Class 6 and 9 |
Exam | RIMCEE (twice a year) | AISSEE (January) | RMS CET (December) |
Seats | About 25 boys and 10 girls per term, all India | Many schools in every state | 5 schools |
Many children prepare for all three. See our AISSEE 2027 guide and RMS CET 2026 guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next RIMC entrance exam?
The Stage-I written exam for the July 2027 term is on 6 December 2026. The following exam, for the January 2028 term, is usually held in June.
Can girls join RIMC?
Yes. RIMC admits girls, with about 10 seats per term allotted zone-wise from an All-India merit list.
What is the age limit for RIMC?
12½ to 14 years on the first day of the admission term. For July 2027, the date of birth must be between 2 July 2013 and 1 January 2015.
Is RIMC free?
No, but it is subsidised. The first-year cost is about ₹1.49 lakh for general candidates, including a ₹50,000 refundable deposit. Scholarships are available in many states.
Find 100 more answers in our RIMCEE 2026 FAQs.
Related RIMC Guides
Source: RIMCEE 2026 Information Bulletin (NTA and RIMC Dehradun).
