Delhi Govt Sets Uniform 6+ Year Age for Class 1 Admission from 2026-27

The Delhi government has announced a uniform admission age of 6+ years for Class 1starting from the academic session 2026-27. The decision aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to bring uniformity across all government, government-aided, and recognised unaided private schools under the Directorate of Education (DoE).

DoE Circular on Revised Foundational Stage Age Criteria

According to the latest DoE circular, the foundational stage currently includes Nursery, KG, and Class 1 with existing age criteria of 3+, 4+, and 5+ years respectively. From the 2026-27 session, the structure and admission age will be revised in a phased manner.

The following table outlines the new age limits for each class as of March 31 of the academic year.

The circular also states that school heads may grant an age relaxation of up to one month in both the minimum and maximum limits for admissions from Nursery to Class 1.

Implementation Schedule for New Structure

The new age criteria will be implemented gradually to ensure a smooth transition. The 2025-26 batch will continue under the existing system. Students of Nursery, KG, and Class 1 from this session will be promoted normally in 2026-27.

The Lower KG (Balvatika 2) and Upper KG (Balvatika 3) classes will be introduced only from the 2027-28 academic session. Hence, new KG admissions in 2026-27 will be open to children who are 4+ years old as on March 31, 2026.

Exemptions for Transfer Students

The DoE has clarified that students transferring from other recognised schools who hold a valid School Leaving Certificate (SLC) and mark sheet will be exempted from the age-appropriate admission criteria. Such students can seek admission directly to the next higher class.

Schools Directed to Inform Parents

The Directorate of Education has instructed all school heads to clearly inform parents about the revised age norms and ensure strict compliance with the updated admission and promotion criteria.

This step marks a significant move towards implementing the NEP 2020’s early childhood care and education framework, standardising the foundational learning stage across schools in Delhi.