Archive · 27 Oct 2025
Delhi Schools to Adopt 6+ Admission Age for Class 1 by 2026
Starting in 2026, kids in Delhi will need to be at least 6 years old to start first grade.
This is part of a plan to follow the rules from 2020 about how kids learn.
Before first grade, children go to Nursery, Lower KG, and Upper KG.
The age to start these classes will also change.
If a kid already went to a different school, they don't need to follow the new age rules to go to the next grade.
Schools will introduce these changes slowly, starting with the new first-grade rule.
This means schools will introduce Lower KG and Upper KG by 2027.
Delhi schools will implement a 6+ year admission age for Class 1 starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
The age criteria for foundational stage (Nursery, KG) will be revised.
The revised age criteria align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
School heads may grant up to a one-month age relaxation.
Lower KG and Upper KG classes will be introduced from the 2027-28 academic year.
- Who
- Delhi government
- What
- Implementing uniform admission age for Class 1 and revising age criteria for foundational stage in schools.
- When
- Starting with the academic session 2026-27 for Class 1 admissions, with phased changes for the foundational stage.
- Where
- Delhi, in all government, government-aided, and recognized unaided private schools.
- Why
- In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
- Implementation Date
- Academic Session 2026-27
- Class 1 Admission Age
- 6+ years
- Nursery Admission Age
- 3-4 years
- Lower KG Admission Age
- 4-5 years
- Upper KG Admission Age
- 5-6 years
- Age Relaxation
- Up to one month (school head discretion)