The Directorate of Education (DoE) in Delhi has officially announced the comprehensive admission schedule for entry-level classes in the capital's private schools for the 2026-27 academic session. This marks the beginning of the crucial process for parents seeking nursery, kindergarten, and class one seats for their young children.
Key Dates and Deadlines for Parents
The admission process kicks off with schools required to upload their specific admission criteria and points system for open seats by November 28, 2025. It is important to note that this requirement applies specifically to open seats and excludes those reserved under the EWS/DG/CWSN categories.
For parents, the window to obtain and submit application forms will open on December 4, 2025. The final deadline for submitting these completed forms to the schools is December 27, 2025.
Transparency and Grievance Redressal
In a move to ensure complete transparency, the DoE has mandated a detailed timeline for disclosure. Schools must upload the details of all applicants by January 9, 2026. Following this, the marks assigned to each child under the points system must be made public on the schools' websites by January 16, 2026.
The highly anticipated first list of selected candidates, along with a waiting list, will be published on January 23, 2026. A dedicated period from January 24 to February 3, 2026, has been allocated for parents to raise any queries or concerns regarding the points allocated to their children. A subsequent second list will be issued on February 9, 2026, and the entire admission process will be formally concluded on March 19, 2026.
Strict Guidelines and Compliance
The education department has issued firm reminders to all private schools. They are prohibited from adopting any admission criteria that have been previously abolished by the DoE and upheld by the Delhi High Court. Furthermore, schools must strictly comply with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act while framing their admission policies.
The DoE has emphasized that any draw of lots, if conducted as part of the process, must be done in the presence of parents and the entire proceeding must be recorded on video. To prevent profiteering, schools have been barred from charging any capitation fees or forcing parents to purchase school prospectuses. They are only permitted to collect a nominal, non-refundable registration fee of Rs 25.
The age criteria for the 2026-27 session have also been clarified. A child must be at least three years old for nursery, four years old for KG, and five years old for Class One as of March 31, 2026. A minor age relaxation of up to one month may be granted at the discretion of the school head. A district-level monitoring cell will be active to oversee compliance and address any grievances during the admission period.
