Delhi Gov’t sets age limit for Class 1 admissions

The Delhi government has introduced a key reform in the education system, mandating a minimum age of 6 years for Class 1 admissions.

This regulation will be enforced across all government, government-aided, and recognized private schools in Delhi, starting from the 2026-27 academic session. Authorities state that the decision aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), which emphasizes foundational learning in early childhood education.

As per the new guidelines, children must be at least 6 years old and no older than 7 years by March 31 to secure admission to Class 1, News18 reports.

“For admissions in the Academic Session 2026-27, a child must have attained the prescribed minimum age as on 31st March, 2026. That is, a child entering Nursery at the age of 3+ years in Session 2026-27, will be in Class 1 at 6+ years,” the official notice states.

The Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) has outlined the revised age criteria:

• Nursery (Balvatika 1/Pre-School 1): 3 to 4 years

• Lower KG (Balvatika 2/Pre-School 2): 4 to 5 years

• Upper KG (Balvatika 3/Pre-School 3): 5 to 6 years

• Class 1: 6 to 7 years

Minor age relaxations (up to one month) may be granted by school authorities in exceptional cases.

The policy will come into effect from the 2026-27 academic year, with Lower and Upper KG implementations starting from 2027-28. Students currently enrolled in Nursery, KG, or Class 1 (2025-26) will progress to the next class as per the existing system.

Exceptions will apply to students transferring from recognized schools with valid School Leaving Certificates (SLC) and marksheets—such pupils can enrol in the next class without adhering to the new age restrictions.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has instructed all schools to effectively communicate these changes to parents and ensure strict compliance with the updated age norms.