Status checked 23 Oct 2026: Delhi’s circular 976 and Maharashtra’s GR (reported 15 Oct 2026) are the latest official changes; the KVS 2027-28 admission notice and Delhi’s 2027-28 private-school schedule are not out yet.
If your child turns six in May 2027, the honest answer to “Can she join Class 1 next year?” is: it depends on which school, and in which state. The Class 1 admission age in India is no longer a simple “five-plus” for everyone. The Centre wants six, Kendriya Vidyalayas already insist on six, Delhi is moving to six in phases, and a few states are still admitting five-year-olds or giving one-year relaxations.
We went through the official circulars, the Lok Sabha record and state-level reporting to put together what each system actually says for Nursery, LKG, UKG and Class 1, with the cut-off date that decides it. Where a 2027-28 order has not been issued, we say so and give the last rule that was notified.
- National norm: six years for Class 1, under the NEP 2020 school structure
- Kendriya Vidyalayas: 6 years as on 31 March; a child born on 1 April is also considered
- Delhi (DoE schools): Lower KG and Upper KG start in 2027-28; new Class 1 admissions at 6+ from 2028-29
- Maharashtra: 6+ for Class 1 only from 2030-31, with a 30 June cut-off
- Status on 23 Oct 2026: KVS and Delhi private-school schedules for 2027-28 not yet notified
Why the Class 1 admission age is moving to six
The push comes from the National Education Policy 2020. It replaced the old 10+2 pattern with a 5+3+3+4 design, where the first five years (the foundational stage) cover ages three to eight: three years of pre-school followed by Classes 1 and 2. Read that backwards and you arrive at the number six for Class 1.
The Right to Education Act, 2009, which guarantees free schooling from six to fourteen, points the same way. But school education sits on the Concurrent List, so the actual admission age has always been fixed by each state. That is why a child of five years and eight months can be welcome in one city and turned away in another.
What the Centre has told states, and when
The Ministry of Education has written to states more than once. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on 20 March 2023 (Unstarred Question 3044), the ministry listed two letters: one dated 31 March 2021 asking states to align admission age with NEP 2020 and prepare a roadmap, and another dated 9 February 2023 reiterating the 6+ criterion for Grade 1. The same reply recorded that 21 states and UTs were admitting children to Class 1 at 6+, while 13 were still at 5+.
The February 2023 letter was widely reported. PTI, in a report carried by The Tribune on 22 February 2023, quoted the ministry asking states to “provide admission to class 1 at the age of six years and above”. A year later, in February 2024, Joint Secretary Archana Sharma Avasthi wrote to states again before the new session, as Onmanorama reported on 26 February 2024.
Note: These are directions to states, not a single national law with one cut-off date. Your child’s eligibility is decided by the rule of your state or the school system (KVS, for example), and by the date on which that rule measures age.
Kendriya Vidyalaya age rule for Balvatika and Class 1
KVS is the cleanest example of the six-year rule in practice. Its admission guidelines, titled “2026-27 & Onwards”, say a child must be six years old as on 31 March of the academic year in which admission is sought for Class 1. The guidelines add one small kindness: a child born on 1 April should also be considered. The upper limit, in the guidelines’ own words, is “less than 08 years” on the same date.
There is no principal’s discretion on the lower limit. The KVS FAQ on kvs.gov.in states that a Kendriya Vidyalaya principal “doesn’t have power to give age relaxation”, except that the maximum age can be relaxed by two years for children with special needs.
Balvatika 1, 2 and 3 in KVs
Kendriya Vidyalayas that run pre-primary sections call them Balvatika. For 2026-27 the age bands were three to four years for Balvatika-1, four to five for Balvatika-2 and five to six for Balvatika-3, all counted as on 31 March 2026, according to the KVS admission notice for 2026-27. Not every KV has Balvatika; check the school’s own notice.
| Stage (KVS) | Age as on 31 March | What happened in 2026-27 (last cycle) |
|---|---|---|
| Balvatika-1 | 3 to 4 years | Online registration 20 March to 2 April 2026; first list 8 April |
| Balvatika-2 | 4 to 5 years | Offline registration 2 to 8 April 2026 in selected KVs (online only in newly opened KVs); list 13 April |
| Balvatika-3 | 5 to 6 years | Online registration 20 March to 2 April 2026, in selected KVs only; first list 8 April |
| Class 1 | 6 years, under 8 (1 April birthday also considered) | Online registration 20 March to 2 April 2026; first list 9 April, second 16 April, third 21 April |
| 2027-28 cycle | Same guidelines apply | Admission notice and schedule not issued as of 23 October 2026 |
For 2027-28, the arithmetic is simple: a child born on or before 1 April 2021, and on or after 1 April 2019, fits the Class 1 band. A child born on 2 April 2021 misses by two days and should be looking at Balvatika-3 instead.
Delhi: Nursery, Lower KG, Upper KG and Class 1 from 2026-27
Delhi has made the most detailed change. The Directorate of Education’s circular No. DE.23(749)/Sch.Br./2025/976, dated 24 October 2025 and signed by Director of Education Veditha Reddy, restructures pre-school in all government, aided and recognised unaided private schools under the DoE. It follows an earlier circular (No. 556) of 20 June 2025, which had first announced the uniform 6+ age and invited public suggestions.
The old structure had two pre-school classes, Nursery and KG, with minimum ages of 3+, 4+ and 5+ for Nursery, KG and Class 1. The new one has three, in line with NEP 2020.
| Class | Also called | Age as on 31 March of the year |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery | Balvatika 1 / Pre-School 1 | 3+ years up to 4 years |
| Lower KG | Balvatika 2 / Pre-School 2 | 4+ years up to 5 years |
| Upper KG | Balvatika 3 / Pre-School 3 | 5+ years up to 6 years |
| Class 1 | – | 6+ years up to 7 years |
How the change rolls out, session by session
The new table does not apply in one go. Children already in Nursery, KG or Class 1 in 2025-26 are protected, and the circular phases in the new classes:
- 2026-27: Nursery admissions at 3+ as on 31 March 2026. KG continues, with new admissions at 4+. Class 1 still admits on the old 5+ basis (KG 2025-26 students promoted, plus new admissions at 5+ up to 6).
- 2027-28: Lower KG and Upper KG are introduced. Nursery at 3+, Lower KG at 4+ and Upper KG at 5+, all as on 31 March 2027. KG students of 2026-27 move to Class 1 under the old structure; the circular lists no fresh Class 1 admissions for this session.
- 2028-29: Class 1 runs fully on the new rule. Children come up from Upper KG, and new admissions are considered at 6+ as on 31 March 2028.
Two clauses matter to almost every parent. Heads of schools can relax both the minimum and the maximum age by one month from Nursery to Class 1. And a regular student who has passed the previous class from a recognised school, with a valid school leaving certificate and mark sheet, is exempt from the age criteria for the next class.
Important: When we checked edudel.nic.in on 23 October 2026, the 2027-28 entry-level admission schedule for private schools had not been posted. The ages above come from circular 976 and will apply once it is.
Class 1 admission age state-wise: status table
This table is meant to be updated as orders come in. “Status” tells you how firm the rule is right now. Sources are linked in the state notes below the table.
| State / system | Class 1 rule | Cut-off date | Status (23 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kendriya Vidyalayas | 6 years, under 8 | 31 March | In force (guidelines 2026-27 & onwards) |
| Delhi (DoE schools) | 5+ for new admissions in 2026-27; promotion from KG only in 2027-28; 6+ for new admissions from 2028-29 | 31 March | Circular 976 of 24 Oct 2025 |
| Karnataka | 6 years | 1 June | In force from 2025-26 (5.5 years allowed that year); 60-day relaxation in 2026-27 |
| Gujarat | 6 years | 1 June | In force since 2023-24 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 6 years | 31 July (as reported) | In force since 2023-24 |
| Haryana | 6 years | Not stated in report | Applies from 2026-27; six-month relaxation dropped |
| Maharashtra | 6 years from 2030-31 (phased from Nursery in 2027-28) | 30 June | GR reported 15 Oct 2026 |
| Kerala | Moving from 5 to 6 | Not stated | Reported for 2027-28; no government order seen |
| Tamil Nadu | 5+ in State-syllabus schools | Not stated | As reported in April 2024 |
| Punjab | No new order found | – | Check the school’s notice |
Karnataka
Karnataka’s original order required a child to turn six by 1 June for Class 1. Deccan Herald reported that it was then put on hold for two years and set to take effect from 2025-26. When 2025-26 arrived, the government allowed a one-time relaxation: children of five and a half who had completed UKG could join Class 1, according to Deccan Herald on 16 April 2025.
The relief came back in a smaller form for 2026-27. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa told the Assembly that children up to 60 days short of six would be eligible this year, ETV Bharat reported on 26 March 2026. He also said there is no law yet fixing LKG and UKG ages, and that one is being planned. Nothing has been notified for 2027-28 so far, so parents of children born in April or May 2021 should not assume the 60-day window will return.
Gujarat
Gujarat moved early. Its notification, dated 31 January 2020, required a child to complete six years on or before 1 June to enter Standard 1, and it took effect in 2023-24. Parents challenged it in the Gujarat High Court that April, as Deccan Herald reported on 10 April 2023. We found no later order changing the 1 June date; confirm with your school.
Uttar Pradesh
The UP Basic Education Department fixed six years as the minimum age for Class 1 from the 2023-24 session. Amar Ujala reported on 29 April 2023 that children completing six by 31 July would be admitted, and that children already in Class 1 at five-plus would not be disturbed. The department said the six-year floor would also govern children moving up from pre-primary classes and anganwadis from the following year.
Haryana
Haryana’s story has had a few turns. In January 2023 the state said children needed 5 years 6 months by 31 March 2023 for 2023-24 and six by 31 March 2024 for 2024-25, The Tribune reported. But the state’s 2011 RTE Rules still allowed five-to-six-year-olds, and in April 2025 the Punjab and Haryana High Court told the state to amend them (The Tribune, 11 April 2025). By January 2026, Amar Ujala reported that six is the minimum from 2026-27 and that the earlier six-month relaxation has been removed. Younger children go to pre-primary.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra has picked the slowest route. A government resolution reported by PTI on 15 October 2026 phases the change in one class a year: Nursery at three from 2027-28, Junior KG at four from 2028-29, Senior KG at five from 2029-30, and Class 1 at six from 2030-31. Age is counted on 30 June, and school heads can give 15 days’ relaxation on both limits. Children already enrolled from Nursery to Class 1 in 2026-27 are not covered by the new limits.
Kerala
Kerala has long admitted five-year-olds. In February 2024, Education Minister V Sivankutty said the state would not implement the Centre’s six-year directive that year, as the Onmanorama report linked above noted. The most recent report we found, in Kerala Kaumudi on 13 February 2026, said the six-year rule will be implemented from 2027-28 and that SCERT has prepared an action plan. We have not seen a government order with a cut-off date yet.
Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab
In Tamil Nadu, officials of the Directorate of Elementary Education told DT Next in April 2024 that State-syllabus schools admit children at five and above; the same report noted that CBSE schools in the state set the minimum at six. In Himachal Pradesh, the High Court ruled in October 2024 that children under six who had finished pre-school could not be denied Class 1 for 2024-25, and asked the state to bring in NEP in phases (The Tribune, 18 October 2024). For Punjab, we could not find a fresh state order on the Class 1 age in official or major news sources; the Lok Sabha reply lists Punjab among states with three years of pre-school.
Class 1 admission age by date of birth: worked examples for 2027-28
Rules are easier to follow with a real birthday in front of you. Here are five children, each checked against the cut-offs above. Ages are worked out to the day.
Born 15 April 2021
On 31 March 2027 she will be 5 years, 11 months and 16 days old. For a Kendriya Vidyalaya, that is short of six, so Class 1 is out for 2027-28 and Balvatika-3, where the KV runs it, is the fit. In Karnataka or Gujarat (1 June cut-off) she will be six by then, so she is eligible. In UP (31 July) she is eligible too. If she is in KG at a Delhi DoE school in 2026-27, she moves up to Class 1 in 2027-28 under the old structure.
Born 1 April 2021
Technically a day short of six on 31 March 2027, but KVS guidelines specifically say a child born on 1 April should also be considered. So this child can apply for Class 1 in a KV for 2027-28.
Born 20 September 2021
He will be 5 years, 6 months and 11 days old on 31 March 2027, and only 5 years, 10 months and 11 days on 31 July 2027. None of the six-year rules above lets him into Class 1 for 2027-28. Delhi is the exception that needs care: if he is already in KG at a DoE school in 2026-27, the circular moves him to Class 1 in 2027-28 under the old structure. If he is starting fresh, he fits the new Upper KG band (5+ as on 31 March 2027) and reaches Class 1 in 2028-29, when he will be 6 years, 6 months and 11 days old on the 31 March 2028 cut-off.
Born 10 February 2024
She will be 3 years, 1 month and 21 days old on 31 March 2027, which fits Nursery or Balvatika-1 (3 to 4 years) for 2027-28 in Delhi DoE schools, and in KVs that offer Balvatika if last year’s bands carry over.
Born 20 April 2024
This is where the Delhi relaxation clause earns its keep. On 31 March 2027 the child is 2 years, 11 months and 11 days old, 20 days short of three. Since heads of schools can relax the minimum age by one month, a Delhi school may admit him to Nursery for 2027-28. It is the school’s call, not a right, so ask in writing.
Date-of-birth table for 2027-28 admissions
Use this as a quick check, then confirm with the school’s own notice. Ranges are inclusive and based on the rules quoted above; the one-month Delhi relaxation and any state relaxation are not built in.
| Class in 2027-28 | Delhi DoE schools (age as on 31 March 2027) | KVS (age as on 31 March 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery / Balvatika-1 | Born 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 | Born 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, if the 2026-27 bands repeat |
| Lower KG / Balvatika-2 | Born 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 | Born 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, if the bands repeat |
| Upper KG / Balvatika-3 | Born 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 | Born 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, if the bands repeat |
| Class 1 | Promotion from KG 2026-27 (old 5+ basis); 6+ new admissions start 2028-29 | Born 1 April 2019 to 1 April 2021 |
For states that use a later cut-off, a child must be born on or before 1 June 2021 to be six by 1 June 2027 (Karnataka, Gujarat), or on or before 31 July 2021 to be six by 31 July 2027 (UP). The month makes a real difference: a May 2021 birthday clears the 1 June and 31 July cut-offs but misses the KVS one.
What parents should do before the 2027-28 admission season
- Get the birth certificate in order now. Every school measures age from it, and a spelling mismatch with Aadhaar can hold up an online form.
- Ask the school which rule it follows. A KV goes by the KVS guidelines, a Delhi private school by the DoE circular, and a state-board school by its state’s order.
- Note the exact cut-off date, not just “six years”. 31 March, 1 June, 30 June and 31 July give very different answers for spring babies.
- If your child is a few weeks short, ask whether the head of school has relaxation powers (Delhi: one month; Maharashtra from 2027-28: 15 days; KVS: none on the lower limit).
- Plan the pre-school years backwards. Under the new pattern a child who enters Nursery at three reaches Class 1 at six, so a late start in Nursery is better than an early push into Class 1.
- Keep the previous school’s leaving certificate and mark sheet. In Delhi, a regular student who has passed the previous class is exempt from the age criteria for the next class.
Parents applying to Maharishi Vidya Mandir schools should read the branch notice for age rules, since each school follows its state and board. The MVM school list and admission process page shows which state each branch sits in, and the MVM Chetpet admission 2027-28 report has the Pre-KG dates for the Chennai branch. For costs, see the MVM fee structure; for the day-to-day routine of young children, the MVM uniform, timing and holidays page. You can follow every admission update in our admissions section.
Frequently asked questions on school entry age
What is the minimum Class 1 admission age in India?
NEP 2020 and the Ministry of Education’s letters to states point to six years. But each state sets its own rule, so some still admit at five-plus or allow relaxations. Kendriya Vidyalayas require six as on 31 March.
Can my child join Class 1 at 5 years and 10 months?
Only where the rule or a relaxation allows it. Karnataka allowed children up to 60 days short of six in 2026-27. In a KV the answer is no unless the child was born on 1 April. In Delhi DoE schools, new Class 1 admissions were on the old 5+ basis in 2026-27; in 2027-28 Class 1 is filled by promotion from KG, and fresh admissions at 6+ begin in 2028-29.
What is the age for Nursery, LKG and UKG?
Under Delhi’s new structure, Nursery is 3+ up to 4, Lower KG 4+ up to 5 and Upper KG 5+ up to 6, all as on 31 March. KV Balvatika bands in 2026-27 were the same three ranges.
Is the Class 1 admission age the same for CBSE schools everywhere?
Not necessarily. Age rules come from the state or UT, and schools on different boards in the same state can differ. In Tamil Nadu, for example, State-syllabus schools take children at five-plus while CBSE schools ask for six, according to DT Next.
My child was born on 1 April 2021. Can she get a KV seat in Class 1 for 2027-28?
Yes, she can apply. KVS guidelines say a child born on 1 April should also be considered, even though she turns six a day after the 31 March cut-off.
From when will Delhi apply the 6+ rule for new Class 1 admissions?
From 2028-29, with age counted on 31 March 2028. Lower KG and Upper KG start in 2027-28.
Does the age rule apply if my child is moving from another school?
In Delhi, a regular student who has passed the previous class from a recognised school, with a valid leaving certificate and mark sheet, is exempt from the age criteria for the next class. Maharashtra’s new GR carries a similar exemption for regular students moving to the next class.
Official website: kvs.gov.in Visit official site ↗
Official Links: Class 1 and Pre-School Admission Age
| What it is | Official link |
|---|---|
| KVS admission guidelines 2026-27 & onwards (PDF) | kvs.gov.in (PDF) |
| KVS admission schedule 2026-27 (PDF) | kvs.gov.in (PDF) |
| KVS admission FAQ | kvs.gov.in |
| KVS online admission portal | admission.kvs.gov.in |
| Delhi DoE circular 976 (24 Oct 2025), new age criteria | edudel.nic.in (PDF) |
| Delhi DoE circular 556 (20 Jun 2025) | edudel.nic.in (PDF) |
| Directorate of Education, Delhi | edudel.nic.in |
| Lok Sabha reply on Class 1 age (20 Mar 2023) | eparlib.nic.in (PDF) |
| Ministry of Education (NEP 2020, school education) | education.gov.in |
