Delhi schools to implement uniform admission age of 6+ years for Class 1 from 2026

The Delhi government will enforce a uniform admission age of 6+ years for students entering Class 1 from the academic year 2026-27.

The move will be applicable to all schools, government, government-aided, and recognised unaided private institutions, under the Directorate of Education (DoE).

This decision forms part of the state’s transition to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework, which redefines the foundational stage of schooling.

The DoE’s latest



circular confirms that the government will also revise the age criteria for pre-primary classes in a phased manner beginning next year.

Currently, the foundational stage in Delhi’s schools comprises Nursery and Kindergarten (KG) followed by Class 1, with minimum admission ages of 3+, 4+, and 5+ years respectively.

Schools will have limited flexibility, with heads permitted to grant up to one month of age relaxation on either side of the minimum and maximum limits from Nursery to Class 1.