RIMC Dehradun's entrance exam has changed this year. For the first time, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting it — not the state commissions that used to run it before.
We read NTA's official document carefully and checked every number below.
Registration closes on September 30, 2026
Applications started: September 1, 2026
Last date to apply: September 30, 2026, by 5 PM
Last date to pay the fee: September 30, 2026, by 11:50 PM
Late applications allowed (with extra fee): October 1 to October 7, 2026
Correction window (to fix mistakes in the form): October 9 to October 11, 2026
Written exam date: December 6, 2026 (Sunday)
Result date: By February 20, 2027
Interview (Viva Voce): Around April 2027
How much does it cost to apply?
What is the exam like? (Full pattern)
Simple points to remember:
There is no negative marking. Wrong answers don't cost you marks.
You can answer in English or Hindi (except the English paper itself, which must be in English).
You need at least 50% marks in each subject. Doing very well in one subject will not save you if you fail another.
Big change: age limit is now different
For this year's exam (December 2026), the age rule has changed.
You must be at least 12 years and 6 months old, and not more than 14 years old, by July 1, 2027.
In simple terms: your date of birth should be between 2 July 2013 and 1 January 2015.
You should be studying in Class 7, or have already passed Class 7, when you join RIMC.
No reservation — selection is only on merit
This is important to know: RIMC has no reservation system. Everyone is selected purely on marks.
For boys, each state has its own separate merit list, and seats are given state-wise.
For girls, one national merit list is made, and seats are given zone-wise across five zones — North, South, East, West, and Central.
After the written exam — what happens next?
If you pass the written exam, you move to the Interview (Viva Voce) — 50 marks, checking your personality and communication skills. You need 50% here too.
After that comes a Medical Test at an Army hospital. Your height, weight, eyesight and general health are checked. The standard is similar to NDA's medical rules.
You must pass all three stages separately — the written exam, the interview, and the medical test. Doing great in one stage does not make up for failing another.
Why RIMC is worth it
RIMC was started on 13 March 1922. It is run by the Ministry of Defence. Its main job is to prepare students for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and a career in the Army, Navy, or Air Force.
RIMC has produced four Army Chiefs and two Air Force Chiefs in India so far, along with many senior officers and award winners.
There are two admission terms every year — January and July. Around 25 boys and 10 girls are admitted each term.
Once admitted, RIMC's own yearly fee is very low, because the government pays most of the cost. It is about ₹1,48,650 for General category and ₹1,31,850 for SC/ST category in the first year (this includes a ₹50,000 deposit that you get back later).
How to apply
You must apply online only. No paper forms or post are accepted this year.
Steps: register with your email and phone number, fill in your personal details, verify your identity through Aadhaar (or another ID if you don't have Aadhaar), upload your documents, and pay the fee.
Apply here: exams.nta.nic.in/RIMCEE
One important warning
Since this is the first year NTA is running this exam, many old articles online still have wrong information — including the wrong fee amount for SC/ST candidates. Always check the numbers directly from NTA's own official document, not from a forwarded message or an old article. That is exactly what we did for every number in this article.
Sources: NTA Official RIMCEE 2026 Information Bulletin (PDF) • NTA Official RIMCEE Portal
