The Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, has invited applications from boys and girls across the country, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for admission to Class VIII for the January 2026 term. The prestigious institution, which serves as a feeder for the National Defence Academy and Indian Armed Forces, will conduct the written entrance examination on December 7, 2025.
As per the eligibility criteria, candidates must either be studying in Class VII or have passed Class VII from a recognised school at the time of admission, which falls on July 1, 2026. The age requirement mandates that applicants be between 11½ and 13 years old on July 1, 2026. This means students should not be born earlier than July 2, 2013, or later than January 1, 2015.
Application forms, along with the prospectus and a booklet of old question papers, are available directly from the RIMC office at Garhi Cantt, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Interested candidates are required to submit a written request accompanied by a demand draft of ₹600 for general candidates and ₹555 for SC/ST candidates. The draft must be made in favour of “The Commandant RIMC Fund,” payable at HDFC Bank, Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun (Bank Code 1399). Applicants are instructed to ensure that their addresses are clearly typed or written in capital letters with PIN code and contact number to avoid any postal delays.
Due to ongoing maintenance and technical upgradation, the official RIMC website is currently offline. Consequently, essential updates and notifications related to the entrance examination, including the procedure for obtaining application forms, cannot be accessed online. Candidates are therefore advised to rely only on the official printed prospectus and forms issued by the RIMC. Locally printed or photocopied forms, or those without the RIMC hologram, will not be accepted under any circumstances.
The list of documents required along with the application is extensive. These include the birth certificate issued by a municipal corporation or gram panchayat, domicile certificate of the candidate, caste certificate in case of SC/ST applicants, and a certificate from the principal of the current school. The principal’s certificate must carry an attested photograph of the student and confirm both the date of birth as per school records and the class in which the candidate is studying. Additionally, a photocopy of the Aadhaar card (both sides) is mandatory, failing which the application will be rejected. Two recent passport-size photographs are also required.
Completed applications must reach the respective state government offices, in the case of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the TGCE at Sri Vijaya Puram, by October 15, 2025. Applications sent directly to RIMC, Dehradun, will not be entertained. The notification makes it clear that no refunds will be issued for application fees under any circumstances, underscoring the need for applicants to carefully follow instructions.
The RIMC, established in 1922, has a long tradition of grooming young cadets for leadership roles in the defence services. With its rigorous academic schedule combined with military training, the institution prepares students not only for the National Defence Academy but also for higher responsibilities in service to the nation. Admission is considered highly competitive, with limited seats available and candidates tested on a wide range of subjects.
For aspiring students from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, this admission cycle offers an opportunity to compete on a national platform and potentially secure a pathway to the armed forces. The combination of eligibility criteria, detailed application process, and strict timelines reflects the seriousness with which the institution maintains its standards.
With the entrance examination scheduled for December 7, 2025, and the last date for applications set at October 15, 2025, students and parents are advised to prepare early and ensure compliance with the official requirements.
