Confusion reigns after Karnataka relaxes minimum age for Class 1 admission to 5 years and 5 months

School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa stated that children who have completed pre-primary education and are at least five years and five months old by June 1, 2025, will be eligible to enrol in Class 1.

The decision comes after extensive deliberation and follows the framework under the Right to Education Act 2009 and Compulsory Education Rules 2012, which mandate a minimum age of six years as of June 1 each academic year for Class 1 enrolment.

The State Education Policy Commission, tasked with reviewing the proposal, reaffirmed the importance of the six-year age limit, citing its alignment with constitutional provisions, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and global educational practices that prioritise stress-free learning and mental development for young children.

However, acknowledging the frustration of parents and their children who have completed pre-primary education this year, the commission recommended a temporary relaxation for the upcoming academic year. “This is a one-time measure to accommodate children who are slightly below the six-year threshold but have completed pre-primary schooling,” the order stated.

Additionally, the government reiterated that as per an order dated June 26, 2024, the minimum age for LKG and UKG admissions will remain four years and five years, respectively, effective from 2025-2026.

Addressing the media, Bangarappa said, “The SEP (State Education Policy) initially recommended five years and nine months and the department officials also insisted on the same. However, we thought of the need to accommodate all the children with a minimum age of five years and five months into Class 1, as we had previously done during Siddaramaiah’s first term as chief minister. The relaxation applies to only state board-run schools. Starting from the 2026-2027 academic year, the six-year minimum age requirement will be strictly enforced.”

Appealing to the parents, Bangarappa said, “Other states in the country also strictly follow the six-year norm for Class 1. My request to parents henceforth is to follow the minimum age criteria of six years to enrol in Class 1 and ensure their children finish anganwadi, LKG and UKG at ages three, four and five, respectively. ”

CBSE and ICSE schools in a fix

However, CBSE- and ICSE-affiliated schools are not sure about whether to follow the state government’s norms of age relaxation or NEP guidelines that mandate the six-year minimum age for Class 1 admission. Private school management associations have expressed their displeasure at the government rolling back on the six-year age criterion, dubbing it unscientific.

D Shashikumar, president of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools of Karnataka (KAMS), said in a statement, “The 6+ years entry age for Class 1, mandated by the NEP 2020 and the RTE Act 2009, is grounded in developmental science, ensuring cognitive and emotional readiness. Research confirms better self-regulation and academic sustainability for children starting at 6, with early starters showing no long-term gains but higher stress. Karnataka’s proactive compliance over three years, with most schools and parents adapting, reflects strong policy alignment. SATS and RTE systems enforce this age limit, making relaxations a legal and equitable violation.”

He added, “Unauthorised schools’ non-compliance risks undermining law-abiding institutions, parental efforts, and the NEP’s credibility. Any rollback, even by months, could spark inequity, legal challenges, and administrative chaos, eroding public trust. We urge the government to uphold the 6-year mandate, enforce it across all schools, and avoid retrospective changes. This ensures child-centric, equitable education, respects mass compliance, and safeguards policy integrity. Clear communication is vital to maintain fairness and legal standing under RTE norms, ensuring a future-proof education system.”

KAMS is also exploring legal options to challenge the government order relaxing the age norm.

M Srinivasan, president of the Managements of Independent CBSE Schools Association (MICSA), said, “CBSE schools are obligated to follow the board’s regulations, which align with NEP 2020 and mandate a minimum age of six for Class 1 admissions. We will steadfastly adhere to this directive.”

Srinivasan called the government’s decision to relax the age criterion a “grave disservice to the countless students and numerous schools that have complied over the past three years. It’s unfair to penalise those who followed the rules for the sake of a few who willfully ignored them. How often will the government dilute these standards? The fault lies solely with schools that knowingly violated the regulations.” He also pledged solidarity with KAMS in its legal fight against the relaxation.

Father Sunil Fernandes, principal of St Joseph’s Boys High School, Bengaluru, said, “The one-time measure is definitely a welcome step and offers a big relief to preschool students of 2022 who were in a fix. The state government has proactively addressed the ambiguity. Meanwhile, I believe the CBSE might direct the schools to follow the age criteria norms of the state given the relaxation that the state government has given. While some schools might accommodate students under the revised age criteria if they have vacancies, other schools including St Joseph’s are closed for Class 1 admissions.”

Dr Sagar Srinivas, a medical professional, whose son studies at National Public School, Jayanagar, heaved a sigh of relief. He told indianexpress.com, “We are grateful to the government for considering our request and delivering justice. We had asked the school to hold off the admission process for the affected parents until the state government gives its decision. Now that the relaxation is officially confirmed, the school management stated that they will get back to us after discussion.”

The controversy

Hundreds of parents in Bengaluru were up in arms against the government’s enforcement of the NEP 2020’s age criterion—that children must be at least six years old by June 1 of the academic year they enter Class 1. Parents argued that this decision, announced in November 2022, unfairly affected children who had already begun their pre-primary education under the previous system in the academic year 2021-22. They were particularly concerned about the psychological effects on children, who will see their peers progress while they are held back.

Earlier, the BJP government had relaxed the rules by allowing students under six years to proceed to Class 1, following protests from parents. The government had provided relaxation to students of the academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25. Later the government decided to postpone the implementation to the academic year 2025-26. However, parents who had enrolled their kids in preschool in 2022-23 are now crying foul, citing the introduction of the age criterion later in 2022.