Haryana has formally ended all forms of age relaxation for Class 1 admissions, making completion of six years compulsory from the 2026–27 academic session. The decision aligns the state’s admission framework with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and directions of the Punjab and Haryana high court.The move is expected to affect thousands of families planning first-time school admissions, particularly in Gurgaon and other urban centres, where competition for entry-level seats remains high and admission timelines are closely tracked by parents.Rules amended after court interventionThe state government has amended the Haryana Right to Education Rules, 2011, which earlier allowed children aged between five and six to be admitted to Class 1. That provision had triggered recurring confusion and legal disputes during every admission season. In the Divisha Yadav versus State of Haryana case, the high court criticised the state for endorsing the NEP norm while continuing with older bylaws and directed it to bring state rules in line with central policy.Officials clarified that children falling short of the age cut-off will be placed in Balvatika or pre-primary classes and shifted to Class 1 once they meet eligibility, allowing them to continue with the same peer group.Private schools outline admission patternsExplaining seat availability, DPS Gurgaon (Sector 45) principal Aditi Misra said the school has about 150 pre-nursery seats across six sections, with nursery and kindergarten running multiple sections capped at 27–28 students. “Pre-nursery and nursery seats are usually fully occupied, with only a few reserved for transfer cases,” Misra told the TNN, adding that Class 1 vacancies typically arise due to family relocations. She said draws of lots are conducted in the presence of parents to ensure transparency.At Manav Rachna International School, Sector 51, admissions for the upcoming session were released in July. The school informed parents through its website, app, emails and notice boards. Officials said demand for early years far exceeds availability, with limited later vacancies due to withdrawals, in conversation with the TNN.Admission timelines and assessment methodsA similar pattern is seen at DAV School, Sector 49, which follows a point-based system. Principal Charu Maini said the school received around 600 applications for just over 100 nursery and LKG seats, with distance carrying the highest weightage. “Admissions to higher classes are conducted through tests, with merit and extracurricular activities considered, while 10 per cent seats are reserved under the EWS/DG category,” Maini said, quoted by the TNN.How Haryana compares nationallyA state-wise snapshot shows Haryana joining several regions enforcing the six-year norm, while others continue with lower entry ages.
Education officials reiterated that parents should rely on official notifications while applying to schools under the revised framework.
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