Delhi Nursery Admission 2025: Detailed Schedule, Age Criteria, and Important Guidelines for Parents and Schools
The Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi, has officially released the schedule for nursery admissions for the academic year 2025-2026. The admission process for entry-level classes, including Nursery, Pre-primary (KG), and Class 1, in private unaided recognised schools across Delhi is set to begin on November 28, 2024. These admissions will be for open seats only, excluding the reserved seats for Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Disadvantaged Group (DG), and Children with Special Needs (CWSN) categories.
Admission Process: Key Dates and Timeline
To ensure a smooth and transparent admission procedure, the Directorate has outlined a detailed timeline for the entire process. Here are the important dates:
| Particulars | Time Schedule |
| Uploading of admission criteria and points | November 25, 2024 (Monday) |
| Start of admission process & availability of forms | November 28, 2024 (Thursday) |
| Last date for submission of application forms | December 20, 2024 (Friday) |
| Uploading of applicant details | January 3, 2025 (Friday) |
| Uploading of marks allocated to applicants | January 10, 2025 (Friday) |
| First list of selected children (including waiting list) | January 17, 2025 (Friday) |
| Parent queries resolution for the first list | January 18 – 27, 2025 |
| Second list of selected children (if applicable) | February 3, 2025 (Monday) |
| Parent queries resolution for the second list | February 5 – 11, 2025 |
| Subsequent list of admissions (if applicable) | February 26, 2025 (Wednesday) |
| Closure of the admission process | March 14, 2025 (Friday) |
Age Criteria and Relaxation
The Directorate has set clear age guidelines for different entry-level classes. For the academic year 2025-2026, the age criteria are as follows:
- Nursery: Minimum age of 3 years and less than 4 years as of March 31, 2025.
- Pre-Primary (KG): Minimum age of 4 years and less than 5 years as of March 31, 2025.
- Class 1: Minimum age of 5 years and less than 6 years as of March 31, 2025.
Schools have the option to offer a relaxation of up to 30 days on the upper age limit for children if parents make a request.
Admission Criteria and Transparency
To ensure fairness, all private unaided recognised schools are required to upload their admission criteria and point systems on the official Directorate of Education website by November 25, 2024. This information must also be displayed prominently on the school’s website and notice board. The points will be awarded based on several factors including:
- Proximity to the school (neighbourhood)
- Siblings already enrolled in the school
- Parent alumni status
Fees and Other Important Guidelines
Parents should be aware that the registration fee for submitting an admission form is non-refundable and is set at Rs. 25. The purchase of a school prospectus is optional and should not be mandatory. Additionally, schools are strictly prohibited from collecting capitation fees, donations, or any other form of illegal payments for securing admission. Violating these rules can lead to severe penalties.
Guidelines for Schools
Schools must ensure that they strictly follow the admission guidelines set by the Directorate of Education. This includes declaring the correct number of available seats, maintaining transparency throughout the process, and conducting a fair admission procedure. If a draw of lots is required, it must be conducted under video surveillance to maintain fairness. Additionally, the final list of selected candidates, along with the points awarded to them, must be uploaded on both the school’s website and the Directorate’s portal for public access.
Reservation for EWS/DG/CWSN Categories
In compliance with the Right to Education Act, 2009, at least 25% of the seats in every private unaided recognised school must be reserved for children from the EWS, DG, and CWSN categories. Schools are also expected to adhere to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, to ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities.
Conclusion
The Delhi Nursery Admissions 2025 process is set to begin on November 28, 2024, and will follow a clear and transparent schedule. Parents are encouraged to take note of the important dates, ensure their child meets the age requirements, and carefully review the admission criteria published by each school. Schools are expected to support parents throughout the process and address any concerns in a timely manner. The aim is to provide every child in Delhi with access to quality early education, irrespective of their socio-economic background.
For more information and official updates, parents and schools can visit the Delhi Directorate of Education’s official website at www.edudel.nic.in.