This is an archive article published on November 27, 2024
Delhi schools list out admission norms as nursery, Class 1 registrations to begin tomorrow
According to the Delhi Directorate of Education, the minimum age of candidates for admission to nursery, KG and Class 1 should be at least 3, 4 and 5 years respectively as of March 31, 2025.
With the registration process for nursery, KG, and Class 1 admissions kicking in on Thursday, private unaided recognised schools in New Delhi have uploaded the admissions criteria on their websites.
Distance from school, siblings studying in the same school, an alumni parent, staff ward, or girl child are a few of the determinants that will help the children secure points for their admission. The admission criteria and the points awarded differ from school to school, but neighbourhood, alumni parents, and siblings are some common factors. Cambridge School Srinivaspuri, one the top co-ed day schools in Delhi, also awards points for linguistic inclusion, which means a student with a native language based from northeastern states, western or southern states will be awarded 20 points.
To make sure that the ward is eligible for admission, the age criteria must also be met. According to the Directorate of Education, the minimum age of candidates looking for admission to nursery, KG and Class 1 should be at least three, four and five years respectively as of March 31 and the upper age limit is set at four years, five years and six years, respectively.
Parents can submit requests for age relaxation up to a 30-day deviation from the maximum as well as the minimum age limit for admission to the nursery class.
Most of the schools have given the highest weightage for proximity to school. For instance, at Summerfields Public School there are a total of 113 open seats available, to which admission can be secured with 10 points for a girl child or firstborn, 65 points for up to 5 km, 40 points for those residing between 5 and 10 km and 30 points for those residing beyond 10km. An alumni parent can earn the child 15 points, while a sibling 10 points.
Ambience Public School has allocated 40 points for above 6 km radial distance, 30 points for siblings in the school, and 20 for alumni parents.
The Indian School, Delhi, has 156 seats in the preschool level for the General category. It will award 20 points to the first-born child, 60 for distance from school, and 20 points for those who have siblings studying in the school.
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At Bluebells School International, there are 77 general seats in pre-primary, out of which a child can secure 50 points for proximity. The school has mentioned that the points are allocated based on existing junior school bus routes and are based on address, not locality.
Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar, will award 30 points to a firstborn child and 20 points to a second-born. For sibling, alumni parent, and staff ward criteria, 10 points each can be earned. Within a distance of 4 km from the school, 50 points will be allocated.
There are 60, 10 and 13 open seats to pre-school, pre-primary, and Class 1 respectively available in Mothers International School, Sri Aurobindo Marg.
There are 108 and 90 open seats available in Delhi Public School’s Vasant Vihar and East of Kailash wings respectively, at the nursery level. For Class 1 admission, DPS East of Kailash has 18 open seats. DPS R K Puram will reward a maximum of 95 points with 50 points based on proximity – at a radial distance of up to 6 km – 50 points, 6.1 to 8 km – 40 points, 8.1 to 15 km – 30 points, 15.1 to 20 km – 20 points, and a sibling – 25 points.
Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Professional Background
Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education.
Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses:
1. The Air Pollution Crisis
"A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure.
"Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR.
"Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter.
2. Enforcement & Regulations
"No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy.
3. Education Policy
"Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025.
"Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation.
Signature Style
Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws.
X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read More
