Delhi Nursery Admissions 2025: Here are key dates, ​age criteria, timeline, other important guidelines for parents

The Directorate of Education, Delhi, has officially announced the schedule for nursery admissions for the academic year 2025-2026. Private unaided recognised schools in Delhi will begin the admission process for entry-level classes such as Nursery, Pre-Primary, and Class 1 from November 28, 2024. The process will apply only to open seats, excluding those reserved for the EWS/DG/CWSN (Economically Weaker Section, Disadvantaged Group, and Children with Special Needs) categories.

Delhi Nursery Admission Process: Key Dates and Timeline

The admission process will follow a structured timeline to ensure transparency and fairness. The key dates are as follows:

Timline	Time Schedule
Uploading criteria and points for admission	November 25, 2024 (Monday)
Commencement of admission process and availability of forms	November 28, 2024 (Thursday)
Last date for submission of application forms	December 20, 2024 (Friday)
Uploading details of applicants	January 3, 2025 (Friday)
Uploading marks allocated to applicants	January 10, 2025 (Friday)
First list of selected children (with waiting list)	January 17, 2025 (Friday)
Resolution of parent queries (for first list)	January 18 - 27, 2025
Second list of selected children (if any)	February 3, 2025 (Monday)
Resolution of parent queries (for second list)	February 5 - 11, 2025
Subsequent list of admissions (if any)	February 26, 2025 (Wednesday)
Closure of admission process	March 14, 2025 (Friday)

Delhi Nursery Admission Age Criteria

The minimum age for children applying for Nursery should be three years
For Pre-Primary (KG): Four years
For Class 1: Five years as of March 31, 2025.

The upper age limits are as follows:
For Nursery: Under four years
For Pre-Primary (KG): Under five years
Class 1: Under six years.

Schools have been given the flexibility to offer a relaxation of up to 30 days in the age limit upon parent request.

Admission Criteria

All private unaided recognised schools are required to upload their admission criteria and the associated point system on the Delhi Directorate of Education website by November 25, 2024. This information must also be displayed on the school's website and notice boards. Points will be awarded based on criteria such as neighbourhood proximity, sibling admission, and parent alumni status.

Delhi Nursery School Fees and Additional Guidelines

A non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 25 will be charged when submitting the admission form. The purchase of the school’s prospectus is optional, and parents should not be forced to buy it. Schools are strictly prohibited from collecting capitation fees or donations for admission. Any violation of this rule will lead to severe penalties.

Important Instructions for Schools

Schools must ensure compliance with the guidelines set by the Directorate of Education. This includes accurately declaring and verifying the available seats, conducting the process fairly and transparently, and using video surveillance if a draw of lots is required. The list of selected candidates, along with the points allotted, must be displayed on the school’s website and the Directorate’s portal for public viewing.

According to the Right to Education Act, 2009, 25% of seats in every private unaided recognised school must be reserved for children from the EWS/DG and CWSN categories. Schools must also comply with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, ensuring that children with disabilities have equal access to education.

For further details, parents and schools can visit the official website of the Delhi Directorate of Education at www.edudel.nic.in.