The Directorate of Education in Delhi has introduced a new age limit for pre-primary admissions, also referred to as Bal Vatika, in all government, private, and aided schools starting from the 2026–27 academic year. This policy change aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and seeks to standardize early childhood education throughout the capital. The announcement raised concerns among parents who worried their children might have to repeat classes or encounter challenges during school transfers. In response, the Directorate clarified that the new age criteria will not affect students already enrolled.
According to Vedita Reddy, the Director of Education, children in nursery (Bal Vatika 1) during the 2025–26 academic year will advance to kindergarten (Bal Vatika 2) in 2026–27, while those in KG will transition to Class 1 as ordinarily expected. “No child will have to repeat a class due to this new regulation,” she stated, noting that transfers to other schools would also remain unaffected. Under the NEP 2020 guidelines, children are required to complete three years of pre-primary education—Bal Vatika 1, 2, and 3—before entering Grade 1.
The revised age limits specify that nursery or Bal Vatika 1 will accept children aged between three and four years, lower KG or Bal Vatika 2 between four and five years, and upper KG or Bal Vatika 3 between five and six years. Admission to Class 1 will necessitate that children be between six and seven years old. The Directorate noted that the implementation of this policy will occur gradually. In 2026–27, only nursery classes will adhere to the new age limit of 3–4 years. The lower and upper KG classes will be phased in during the 2027–28 academic year, with the 6+ age requirement for Class 1 fully enforced by 2028–29.
Schools have been instructed to inform parents of these changes and to develop a phased class structure and promotion list accordingly. To provide flexibility, the government has allowed for a one-month relaxation in the age criteria, permitting principals to admit children who may be slightly younger or older than the designated age range—such as those who are 2 years and 11 months or 4 years and 1 month during nursery admission. Furthermore, students transferring from recognized schools with a valid School Leaving Certificate (SLC) and marksheet will be exempt from the new age rule, ensuring a seamless transition for all ongoing students.
This revised policy represents a significant advancement in aligning Delhi’s education system with the NEP 2020 framework while ensuring that existing students and their families experience no interruptions in their educational journey.