The Delhi government has announced a significant change in its education system by setting a uniform admission age of 6 years for Class 1 in all government, government-aided, and recognized private schools starting from the academic year 2026-27. This decision is outlined in a recent circular issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE).
Currently, the foundational stage of education comprises two classes: Nursery and Kindergarten (KG), with minimum age requirements of 3, 4, and 5 years for Nursery, Lower KG, and Upper KG, respectively. Under the revised structure, which aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the minimum and maximum ages for admission will be adjusted. Specifically, children will need to be 3 and 4 years old for Nursery, 4 and 5 years for Lower KG, 5 and 6 years for Upper KG, and 6 and 7 years for Class 1.
Schools will have the discretion to provide an age relaxation of up to one month for both minimum and maximum age limits for admissions from Nursery through Class 1. It is important to note that these new age criteria will not affect students currently enrolled for the 2025-26 academic session. Students in Nursery, KG, and Class 1 during this period will advance to the next class according to existing structures in 2026-27.
For the 2026-27 academic year, admissions for Kindergarten will be available to children who are aged 4 years as of March 31, 2026. Additionally, students who have completed their previous class at any recognized school and hold a valid School Leaving Certificate (SLC) and mark sheet will not be bound by the new age criteria when seeking admission to the next class.
Starting from the 2027-28 academic session, Lower KG and Upper KG will be formally introduced, with admissions governed by the newly established age criteria. The DoE has instructed school heads to communicate these changes clearly to parents and ensure compliance with the updated admission policies and student progression guidelines.
