Delhi Nursery & School Admission Guidance — DoE 2026-27 Cycle
Quick answer: For 2026-27, a child must be at least 3 years old as on 31 March 2026 for Nursery (a one-month relaxation is possible at the Head of School's discretion). Application forms open 4 December 2025; schools publish their points criteria by 28 November 2025. Registration is capped at a non-refundable Rs 25 fee — capitation fees and compulsory prospectus purchases are prohibited by the Directorate of Education.
Last verified 4 October 2026 — rules on this page checked against the current notifications. We update it the day a rule changes.
2026-27 age criteria & schedule (Directorate of Education)
| Class | Minimum age (as on 31 March 2026) |
|---|---|
| Nursery | 3 years |
| KG | 4 years |
| Class 1 | 5 years (age norms are being aligned to NEP 2020's foundational-stage structure over the transition years — always cross-check the current circular before applying) |
| Stage | Date (2026-27 cycle) |
|---|---|
| Schools publish admission criteria & points system | 28 November 2025 |
| Application forms available | 4 December 2025 |
| Last date to submit forms | 27 December 2025 |
| Schools upload applicant list | 9 January 2026 |
| Points displayed for all applicants | 16 January 2026 |
| First selection list | 23 January 2026 |
| Second selection list | 9 February 2026 |
These dates apply to open-category seats at private unaided recognised schools. EWS/DG/CWSN admissions run on a separate DoE-managed track and timeline. Always verify the current cycle's exact dates against the DoE's own circular before relying on any date — schedules can shift by a notification.
The points system — what actually decides admission
This is where we spend most of our time with a family — reading your target schools' published points criteria against your actual address, sibling and alumni status, and telling you honestly where you stand before you apply.
Each school designs its own points criteria within DoE rules, typically weighted across neighbourhood/distance from the school, sibling already enrolled, alumni (parent is a former student), and sometimes single-parent or girl-child points. Schools must publish their full points break-up on their website before the form goes live, and any draw of lots for tied scores must happen in the presence of parents, recorded on video. Reading a school's published criteria carefully — before applying, not after — is the single highest-leverage thing a parent can do.
Documents you'll typically need
- Address proof (ration/smart card, recent utility bill, or passport) in a parent's or the child's name
- Child's birth certificate
- Recent photographs of the child and both parents
- Quota-specific documents where applicable: sibling's ID/fee receipt for sibling points, a religious-minority certificate, or EWS/DG category documents
Every school may ask for a slightly different exact document set — we confirm the specific list against your target schools' current notices before you submit anything.
What a consultancy can honestly help with
Delhi nursery admission consulting is a real, established service category — and an honest one stays within a clear lane. We can help you: read and interpret a school's published points criteria against your own profile, assemble a complete and error-free document set, track deadlines across multiple schools so nothing is missed, and prepare you for the parent-interaction round. What we do not do: guarantee a seat, claim access to any quota outside the DoE's published categories, or represent any special relationship with a specific school's admission office. Anyone promising a "100% success rate" or unpublished quota access in Delhi's DoE-regulated system is promising something outside the rules.
Wondering which specific schools are hardest to get into, or which cost the most? See our independent guide to Delhi's top 10 hardest-to-enter and 5 most expensive schools, with individually researched profiles for each.
Our methodology: honest, documented, on time
- Read the criteria first — we go through the school's published points/criteria against your actual profile before you apply, not after.
- Complete documentation — every form and supporting document checked against the school's current requirements, so nothing gets rejected on a technicality.
- Deadline tracking — across every school on your shortlist, in one place, so no window closes unnoticed.
Who this is for
Parents applying for Nursery, KG or Class 1 in any Delhi private unaided school for the 2026-27 session; parents confused by a school's specific points criteria or document requirements; and parents managing applications across multiple schools who want a single tracker for deadlines and documentation.
Delhi nursery admission 2027-28 — expected schedule (based on the DoE's 2026-27 dates)
| Stage | 2026-27 (actual, DoE) | 2027-28 (expected — label until the DoE circular issues) |
|---|---|---|
| Schools upload criteria | 28 November 2025 | Late November 2026 |
| Forms open | 4 December 2025 | Early December 2026 |
| Last date | 27 December 2025 | Late December 2026 |
| Applicant list / points | 9 January / 16 January 2026 | Mid-January 2027 |
| First list | 23 January 2026 | Late January 2027 |
| Second list / subsequent list | 9 February / 5 March 2026 | February / March 2027 |
| Closure | 19 March 2026 | March 2027 |
Age as on 31 March of the admission year: 3+ for Nursery, 4+ for KG, 5+ for Class 1. Registration fee ₹25, non-refundable. In 2026-27 about 1,741 private unaided schools received around 1.25 lakh applications.
Governing circulars: open-seat schedule F.DE.15(172)/PSB/2016/9179-9188 dated 22 November 2025; age norms DE.23(749)/Sch.Br./2025/976 dated 24 October 2025 — Nursery 3+ to under 4, KG 4+, Class 1 5+ for 2026-27 with the uniform 6+ Class 1 rule phased in by 2029-30; Lower KG (Balvatika 2) is introduced from 2027-28; the Head of School may relax age by one month either way. Nursery for 2027-28 is 3+ as on 31 March 2027.
EWS / DG / CWSN (25% quota) — 2026-27 actual dates
- Applications 21 February – 16 March 2026 on edudel.nic.in; first computerised draw 6 April 2026; document scrutiny 9–22 April; appeals 7–12 May; admissions to 20 May; second draw 10 July 2026
- Class 2 and above vacancy round: applications 9–20 September 2026, draw in late September
- Reservation 22% EWS + DG and 3% CWSN; income limit below ₹5 lakh a year (raised from ₹2.5 lakh), proved by a Delhi Revenue Department income certificate
Applying this cycle and want your documentation right the first time?
Frequently asked questions
When will Delhi nursery admission 2027-28 start?
Going by the DoE's pattern — criteria uploaded 28 November 2025 and forms from 4 December 2025 for 2026-27 — expect the 2027-28 circular in late November 2026 with forms in early December. We update this page the day the DoE schedule issues.
What is the EWS income limit for Delhi private school admission?
Below ₹5 lakh a year from all sources, raised from ₹2.5 lakh, proved by an income certificate from the Delhi Revenue Department; 22% of entry-level seats are reserved for EWS/DG and 3% for CWSN.
Can I apply for EWS admission for Class 2 or above?
Yes — the DoE runs a separate vacancy round for Class 2 onwards (applications 9–20 September in 2026) for seats that fall vacant in the 25% quota.
Is the Delhi school fee regulation Act in force for 2026-27?
The Act (14 Aug 2025) and Rules (10 Dec 2025) are notified and the government committed to apply them from 2026-27, but the Delhi High Court deferred the School-Level Fee Regulation Committee direction on 28 February 2026 and is hearing the validity challenge. Status is therefore 'notified, implementation contested' — check the latest High Court order before acting on it.
What is the minimum age for Nursery admission in Delhi for 2026-27?
A child must be at least 3 years old as on 31 March 2026, per the Directorate of Education's circular for the 2026-27 session. Schools may grant up to one month of age relaxation at the Head of School's discretion.
How much can a Delhi school charge for a nursery registration form?
The Directorate of Education caps the registration fee at Rs 25, non-refundable. Capitation fees are prohibited, and schools cannot make purchasing their prospectus compulsory for registration.
What is the points system in Delhi nursery admissions?
Each private unaided school sets its own points criteria within DoE rules — commonly covering neighbourhood distance, sibling enrollment, alumni status and sometimes other factors — and must publish the full break-up on its website before the application window opens. Where scores tie, a draw of lots must be conducted in front of parents and recorded on video.
When do Delhi nursery admission forms open for 2026-27?
Per the DoE's circular for this cycle, application forms became available from 4 December 2025, with schools required to publish their criteria and points system by 28 November 2025 and the form-submission deadline set at 27 December 2025. Always check the current notice, as dates can be revised.
Can a nursery admission consultant guarantee my child a seat?
No legitimate consultant can guarantee a seat in Delhi's DoE-regulated points-based system — admission is decided by the published criteria and, where scores tie, a recorded draw of lots. What an honest consultant offers is help reading criteria correctly, preparing a complete and accurate application, and not missing deadlines — not a guaranteed outcome.
Are EWS/DG admissions on the same timeline as general admissions?
No — EWS, DG (Disadvantaged Group) and CWSN admissions run on a separate track managed directly by the DoE, with their own schedule, distinct from the open-category dates and points process described here.