Nursery Admission in Delhi 2026-27: Merit List Dates, Selection Criteria, Age Eligibility

If you are a parent or caregiver, and you want to admit your child to a nursery in Delhi for the 2026-27 session, this guide will help you understand how it works, what the rules are, and what you need to do.

What is Nursery Admission in Delhi

• Nursery admission means the admission process for entry-level classes in private unaided recognised schools, and also sometimes government/private schools under Delhi’s Department of Education (DoE).

• Entry levels usually include Nursery (Preschool / Bal Vatikā 1), Kindergarten (KG / Bal Vatikā 2), and Class 1 (Formal schooling starts).

• Every year, the DoE issues a circular that tells schools and parents the rules: eligibility, selection criteria, age limits, and important dates.

Age Limit for 2026-27 (and What It Means)

Age limit is very important. If your child does not meet the age limit by a certain date, the child will not be eligible. Recently, Delhi has made some changes to the age rules under new policies.

Here are the key age rules:

• For Nursery: Child must be at least 3 years old by March 31 of the admission year. Also, it must be less than 4 years old by that date.

• For Kindergarten (KG / Pre-primary): Minimum 4 years, and less than 5 years as of March 31.

• For Class 1: Minimum 5 years, and less than 6 years, as of the end of March of the admission year. But note: from academic session 2026-27, there is a new rule that children must be six years old to join Class 1. This is part of the implementation of NEP (National Education Policy), and is aligned with government guidelines.

So for 2026-27, when applying, check which rule applies at that time. If your child does not satisfy, even by a few days, many schools will reject the application. Always check the specific school’s policy too, because sometimes small relaxations are possible (but they are official and limited).

Selection Criteria & School Choice

Getting admitted is not always guaranteed, because many children apply, but schools have limited seats. So schools and the DoE use a point-based system or merit list + lottery to select. Here are the common criteria:

1. Proximity / Neighbourhood / Distance
   Schools often give high weightage (many points) to children living near the school. This means if you live in a zone or sector close to the school, your child gets priority.

2. Sibling in School
   If the child already has a brother or sister studying in that school, points are often awarded.

3. Girl Child / Single Girl Child
   Some schools give bonus points if the child is a girl, or a single girl child in the family.

4. Single Parent / Parent with Disability
   These categories may get preference in some schools.

5. Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Disadvantaged Groups (DG), Children with Disabilities (CWSN)
   By law, about 25% of seats must be reserved for EWS / DG / CWSN children. These have separate lists and selection (often by lottery if many apply) so that the process is fair.

6. Other Criteria
   Some schools also consider whether parents are residents, whether there are any alumni (former students), and whether the child lives in certain specified sectors or areas. These are all used in the point system. Schools are required to publish these criteria and the points assigned for each criterion before admission begins.

Merit List / Admission Lists

How the list works:

• Schools or DoE release a merit/selection list (sometimes with a waiting list) after applications are submitted and points are calculated.

• If seats remain, they publish a second list, and sometimes subsequent lists. Parents whose child is not selected in the first list may check the later lists.

• Parents are given time to raise queries about how points were given (if they feel something is wrong) before final lists are published.

Key Dates & Registration Process (What Parents Should Do)

Though exact dates will come for 2026-27, the process typically follows a pattern similar to past years. Here’s what you need to know and do:

1. Watch for the Circular / Notification
   DoE issues the notification for nursery admissions, including rules, age limits, and dates. Check the official Delhi Education Department website.

2. Application / Registration Opens
   Usually, in November (for example, for 2025-26, it opened on November 28).

3. Last Date to Apply
   There is a deadline (for example, December 20 in the previous cycle). Make sure you submit before that.

4. Submission of Documents
   Birth certificate, proof of residence (Aadhaar, utility bills, etc.), photos, and any sibling/parent certificates if needed. Have them ready.

5. Schools Upload Criteria & Points
   Schools must upload (online) their selection criteria and how many points each will carry. This is required by DoE, so parents know in advance.

6. First Merit / Selection List
   After the application deadline, the first list with selected children is published (often mid-January).

7. Queries / Corrections Period
   Parents can see their child’s points, check if the data is correct, and ask for correction if something is wrong.

8. Second / Subsequent Lists
   If seats remain, schools publish more lists.

9. Finalization
   Once a list where you are selected comes, you complete admission formalities (submit documents, fee, etc.).

Recent Change for 2026-27: Class 1 Age Rule

An important update for 2026-27 is that Class 1 admission now requires that the child be 6 years old by the date set by DoE (usually by March 31 of that academic year). This aligns with NEP 2020. This means children who are 5 but turning 6 soon may now meet the requirement; those younger than 6 will not.

Because of this change, the foundational stage (pre-primary schooling) is being structured into three levels:

• Nursery / Bal Vatikā 1 – age 3+

• Lower Kindergarten / Bal Vatikā 2 – age 4+

• Upper Kindergarten / Bal Vatikā 3 – age 5+

• Then Class 1 at age 6+.

What Parents Should Check / Prepare

• Check exactly what age date schools are using: often, they use March 31 of the admission year. Your child might need to be born before or on a certain date.

• Check each school’s specific point system and criteria. Even though DoE gives broad rules, private schools may have additional criteria (e.g. specific sectors, alumni, etc.).

• Keep your documents ready and valid. Birth certificate, proof of address, and photographs.

• Apply to more than one school (as backup) since competition is strong.

• Monitor lists once they are published. Sometimes you may be on a waiting list; seats may open up.

Why This Matters

This process is very important because getting admission in a good school early helps the child start well and also eases parents’ concerns. The rules are made so things are fairer and more transparent. With age rule changes, schools will also follow the new structure strictly, so it’s important not to miss deadlines or mis-calculate age.