On the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that all Sainik schools in the country will now be open for girls as well. At present, 33 Sainik schools are operating in the country.

“I got messages from lakhs of girls from across the country expressing their desire to study in Sainik Schools. Hence, the government has decided that all such schools across the country will now be open for girls as well,” PM Modi said.

At present, 33 Sainik schools are operating in the country.

The aim of establishing Sainik schools was to prepare the students from an early age for their entry into the Indian armed forces.

During his Independence Day speech on Sunday, the prime minister said that two-and-a-half years ago, the maiden experiment of admitting girls in Sainik schools was carried out in Mizoram.

“Now, the government has decided that all the Sainik schools in the country will also be open for the daughters of the country,” he said.

An All India Sainik School Entrance Examination (AISSEE) is conducted for admission to Sainik Schools, which follow the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum. For classes 6 and 9, students are granted admission on the basis of their performance in the entrance exam. For class 11, the basis of admission is marks scored in class 10 board exams.

 However, it is to be noted that 67% seats are reserved for students who are from the home state of a Sainik School. The remaining 33% students are admitted from outside the home state. There is reservation also on the basis of Scheduled Castes (15%), Scheduled Tribes (7.5%), Other Backward Classes (27%) and for wards of current and former servicemen (25%).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the 75th Indian Independence Day.

Ahead of the address, PM Modi visited Rajghat and also received the guard of honour at Red Fort. Meanwhile, security has been ramped up across Delhi and Red Fort for the mega Independence Day event on Sunday while security forces across the country have been put on high alert around the vital installations.