The age limit for children eligible for nursery admission in Delhi will be calculated as of March 31, 2026. Accordingly, a child must be 3 to 4 years old by March 31, 2026, to be eligible for nursery admission.

The Delhi Directorate of Education has issued a notification for admission to open seats in nursery, KG, and Class 1 in private schools for the 2026-27 academic year. According to the notification, 75 per cent of seats will be accepted for open category (Non-EWS/DG/CWSN) seats, while 25 per cent are reserved for reserved categories. Admission forms for admission to schools in the capital will be released on December 4, and the last date for submitting applications is December 27, 2025. The first list will be released on January 23, 2026, and the entire process will conclude on March 19, 2026.

Age Limit for Nursery School Admission

The age limit for children enrolled in nursery schools in Delhi will be calculated as of March 31, 2026. Accordingly, children must be 3 to 4 years old by March 31, 2026, to be admitted to nursery. For admission to KG, the age limit must be 4 to 5 years, and for admission to first grade, the age limit must be 5 to 6 years. However, school principals can grant a one-month relaxation in the age limit if necessary.

What is the admission schedule?

Private schools in Delhi will be required to upload the school admission criteria and point system for admission today, November 28, 2025. Admission forms will be released on December 4, 2025. Applications can then be accepted until December 27. A list of all applicants will be released on January 9, and the list with points will be uploaded on January 16. The first list will then be released on January 30. Parents will be able to file complaints regarding the first list from January 24th to February 3rd, and the second list will be released on February 9th. Complaints regarding the second list can then be filed from February 10th to 16th. If necessary, a further list will be released on March 5th. The admission process will then conclude by March 19th.

Admission Rules for Transparency

To maintain transparency in Delhi schools, certain admission rules have been issued. Videography of the draw of lots will be mandatory. The criteria struck down by the High Court will no longer apply, and schools can charge only a registration fee of ₹25. Furthermore, a prospectus is no longer mandatory, and a district-level monitoring cell will oversee the entire process. To prevent arbitrariness by private schools, the Delhi High Court has established 62 criteria. A 100-point merit list will be prepared based on these criteria, with the primary weightings being distance, siblings, single girl children, and alumni. According to this merit, first, second and if needed, third list will be released.