Delhi Nursery Admissions 2026: What is the minimum age to get admission in nursery?

Age eligibility for Delhi Schools Nursery, KG, and Class 1 Admissions 2026–27

According to the DoE, the following minimum and maximum ages (as on 31 March 2026) will apply across all private unaided recognised schools:

–Nursery (Balvatika 1/Pre-School 1): 3+ years up to 4 years

–KG (Balvatika 2/Pre-Primary/Pre-School 2): 4+ years up to 5 years

–Class 1: 5+ years up to 6 years

The DoE has clarified that children admitted to Nursery in 2025–26 will automatically move to KG in 2026–27, and those in KG in 2025–26 will move to Class 1. Admissions to Nursery for 2026–27 will therefore apply strictly to children who have completed three years but not completed four years by March 31, 2026.

The circular reiterates that these rules are being enforced exactly as detailed in the DoE’s order dated October 24, 2025, which had first operationalised the NEP-aligned foundational stage structuring.

Delhi Nursery Admissions 2026: Complete schedule

The DoE has released the full timeline for uploading criteria, issuing forms, declarations of lists, grievance windows and closure of the admission cycle.

Point system and selection process

Each private unaided school is required to upload:

–Admission criteria

–Points assigned to each criterion

–Names of all applicants

–Points allotted to every applicant under the school’s system

If the number of candidates exceeds available seats, schools must conduct a draw of lots (computerised or paper slips) in complete transparency. Parents are required to be informed at least two days in advance, and the entire process must be videographed, with copies retained by the school, according to the DOE notice.

Reservation for EWS/DG and children with disabilities

All private unaided recognised schools are required to reserve 25% of seats at the entry level for children belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), the Disadvantaged Group (DG), and for Children with Disabilities as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.

ALSO READ |Delhi schools to conduct Parakh Rashtriya Sarvekshan on December 4

This reservation mandate is enforced under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act, and its implementation in Delhi has been reinforced by the Delhi High Court’s order dated May 24, 2012. Schools must therefore ensure that admissions under this category are conducted strictly as per the notified norms and through the designated online module.

What parents should prepare before applying

Parents planning to apply for Nursery, KG or Class 1 admissions for the 2026–27 session should keep all required documents and information ready before the application window opens.

Essential items include a valid birth certificate for age verification, recent photographs of the child and both parents, and proof of residence, which may comprise any of the officially accepted documents listed by the Directorate of Education.

Depending on a school’s criteria, parents may also need to provide additional documents such as sibling proof, alumni certificates, or any other category-specific requirement. It is advisable to draw up a list of shortlisted schools along with their distance norms and point-system policies in advance.

Parents should also ensure they have a working email ID and mobile number, as all communication from schools such as updates on draws, grievance windows and selection lists, will be shared through these channels.

Next steps for parents

With the admission process from December 4, 2025, parents are advised to actively monitor updates on individual school websites, especially regarding criteria, point allocation and availability of forms.

They should carefully review the point distribution system of each school to understand how applicants are being evaluated. Since the last date to apply is December 27, 2025, timely submission is crucial to avoid disqualification.

After schools release the first and second lists, parents must check point allotments and use the designated grievance windows if there are discrepancies in the marks assigned to their child. Early preparation and close tracking of announcements can help ensure a smooth and error-free application process.

Private School Criteria for 2026–27

Private unaided schools in Delhi have begun publishing their criteria for Nursery, KG and Class 1 admissions for 2026–27, with distance emerging as the most decisive parameter across institutions. Most schools have assigned 50–80 points to neighbourhood proximity, making it the single largest factor for admission under open seats.

Several schools have introduced detailed distance slabs:

–Indraprastha International School, Dwarka: 55 points for 0–12 km; 45 for 12–15 km; 35 beyond 15 km.

–Tagore International School, EoK: 50 points within 4 km or transport zone; additional points for first-born status, siblings, alumni and staff wards.

–Darbari Lal DAV Model School, Pitampura: Among the highest weightages—80 points for 0–2 km, tapering down for farther distances.

–NK Bagrodia Public School, Rohini: 70 points within 1 km; 65 for 1–3 km; 50 for 3–6 km.

–New Green Field School, Alaknanda; Amity, Saket; Sanskrit Public School: 30–60 points for neighbourhood, with remaining points distributed across siblings, alumni and staff wards.

Some minority schools follow community-based preferences permitted under regulations—for instance, St. Michael’s Senior Secondary School gives 40 points to practising Christian applicants.

Schools had been instructed to upload all criteria and point systems by November 28, publish applicant details by January 9 and release point allocations on January 16.

(With agency inputs)