The Directorate of Education (DoE) of Delhi has announced a major change in the admission system in schools, which is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Now from the academic session 2026-27, only those children who have completed the age of 6 years will be able to take admission in Class 1. This decision has been taken with the aim of redesigning the elementary education structure in government, aided and recognized private schools in the capital.
What Will Change?
Under the new system, the three years of education before Class 1 will be considered as a formal foundational stage. Under this new structure, the classes according to age will be as follows:
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Nursery (Bal Vatika/Preschool 1): Above 3 years
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Lower KG (Preschool 2): Above 4 years
Upper KG (Preschool 3): Above 5 years
Class 1: Above 6 years
The Directorate of Education has also said that the names of classes like Nursery, LKG and UKG may change in future, so that they are in line with modern pedagogical approaches.
Important Information For Schools And Parents
As per this new directive, all schools affiliated to the DoE will have to adopt this revised framework from 2026-27. Detailed guidelines will be issued soon. This change has been brought to ensure that children are mentally and physically prepared when they start formal education, as required in NEP 2020 and RTE Act 2009.
To make this change more inclusive, the DoE has urged teachers, parents, students, experts and the general public to share their suggestions. Interested persons can send their views to schoolbranchnep@gmail.com by July 10, 2025.
This new circular invalidates all old orders related to age-criteria and elementary education structure in Delhi schools.