Delhi Government to Implement Uniform Admission Age of 6+ Years for Class 1 Starting Academic Year 2026-27

Starting from the academic session 2026-27, the Delhi government will enforce a uniform admission age of 6+ years for Class 1 across all schools, aligning with the National Education Policy NEP 2020.

The Delhi government plans to standardise the admission age for Class 1 to 6+ years across all government, government-aided, and recognised unaided private schools under the Directorate of Education (DoE) from the 2026-27 academic session. This change aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which also calls for a phased revision of age criteria for the foundational stage starting next year.

Currently, the foundational stage includes Nursery and KG classes, followed by Class 1. The minimum ages for these are set at 3+, 4+, and 5+ years, respectively. In the updated structure, as of March 31, children must be between 3 and 4 years old for Nursery Balvatika 1/Pre-School 1, between 4 and 5 years for Lower KG Balvatika 2/Pre-School 2, between 5 and 6 years for Upper KG Balvatika 3/Pre-School 3, and between 6 and 7 years for Class 1.

Age Criteria Adjustments

The circular specifies that school heads may allow a one-month age relaxation in both minimum and maximum age limits for admissions from Nursery to Class 1. However, these new age criteria will not affect students enrolled in the current academic session of 2025-26. Notably, Lower KG and Upper KG classes will only commence in the academic year 2027-28.

For the academic session of 2026-27, children aged 4+ as of March 31, 2026, will be eligible for new admissions to KG. Students advancing from any recognised school with a valid School Leaving Certificate (SLC) and mark sheet will not need to meet the age-specific criteria when moving to a higher class.

Implementation Timeline

From the academic session of 2027-28 onwards, Lower KG Balvatika 2/Pre-School 2 and Upper KG Balvatika 3/Pre-School 3 will be introduced. Admissions to these classes will adhere strictly to the revised age criteria outlined in the circular. School heads have been previously informed about these changes and are expected to communicate them clearly to parents.

The Directorate has instructed all school heads to ensure strict adherence to these revised age criteria for admissions and student progression. This directive aims to ensure a smooth transition to the new system while keeping parents informed about upcoming changes.

Students currently in Nursery, KG, and Class 1 during the academic year of 2025-26 will advance according to the existing structure in the following year. This approach ensures continuity for students already enrolled under the current system while preparing for future adjustments.

With inputs from PTI