Delhi to mandate 6+ age for Class 1 from 2026; DoE orders major pre-primary restructuring
The Directorate of Education (DoE), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, has announced the implementation of a uniform age criterion of six years for admission to Class 1 starting from the academic session 2026–27.
The move comes in line with the directives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
In a circular dated June 20, the directorate has notified all heads of government, government-aided, and recognised unaided private schools of the restructuring of the foundational stage and enforcement of the revised age criteria. The policy mandates three years of pre-primary education — from Nursery to Upper Kindergarten — before a child is eligible for admission to Class 1.
Revised age structure
According to the new framework, the age for admission to pre-primary and Class 1 will be regulated as follows:
Nursery (Bal Vatika/Preschool 1): 3+ years
Lower KG (Bal Vatika/Preschool 2): 4+ years
Upper KG (Bal Vatika/Preschool 3): 5+ years
Class 1: 6+ years
The DoE has stated that the nomenclature for pre-primary classes is flexible and may be altered as per institutional requirements.
The directive clearly states that 'a child may be admitted to Class I only upon completion of six years of age from Academic Session 2026–27 onwards.'
All schools under purview
The policy is applicable across all schools affiliated with the Directorate of Education, including government, government-aided, and recognised unaided private institutions.
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Schools have been instructed to prepare for the transition and await further implementation guidelines, which will be issued in due course.
To ensure a participatory approach, the DoE has called upon teachers, parents, school management committees, educational institutions, subject experts, and the general public to submit suggestions and feedback on the execution of the new structure.
'To make the process more inclusive and participatory, it is essential to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to contribute their inputs and suggestions regarding various aspects of the mechanism being developed,' the circular stated.
The restructuring aligns Delhi's school admission norms with the national education roadmap and is aimed at ensuring developmentally appropriate learning for students entering the formal school system.
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