Age Criteria for Nursery, LKG & Class 1 Admission (2027-28): A Parent's Checklist

Sep 03, 2026

For the 2027-28 academic session in Delhi, a child must be 3 to 4 years old for Nursery, 4 to 5 years for Lower KG (LKG), 5 to 6 years for Upper KG (UKG), and 6 to 7 years for Class 1 — all measured as on 31 March 2027.

These age bands come from the Directorate of Education's (DoE) restructuring of the foundational stage under NEP 2020, and 2027-28 is the first year LKG and UKG exist as their own admission-entry classes.

This checklist walks through what changed, the exact age criteria for each class, how to check your own child's eligibility, and what to do next.

Delhi's New Foundational Stage Structure — What Changed

In June 2025, the DoE issued a circular restructuring Nursery, KG, and Class 1 admissions in line with the NEP 2020 "5+3+3+4" school structure, which places three years of pre-primary education before Class 1 rather than the earlier two.

Under the revised structure, the foundational stage is renamed and reorganised as Balvatika 1, 2, and 3 (also referred to as Pre-School 1, 2, and 3) — commonly known to parents as Nursery, LKG, and UKG. Class 1 now follows with a uniform minimum entry age of 6 years, replacing the more variable age norms different schools used earlier.

The rollout is phased rather than immediate:

• The new age criteria did not apply to students already enrolled in the 2025-26 session — they continue to be promoted under the earlier structure.
• Nursery admissions moved to the new criteria from the 2026-27 session.
• LKG and UKG exist as distinct admission-entry classes only from the 2027-28 session onward.
• The uniform 6-year minimum for Class 1 applies from the 2026-27 session onward.

Age Criteria for Nursery, LKG, UKG & Class 1 (2027-28)

These birth windows follow directly from the DoE's age bands and the 31 March 2027 cut-off for the 2027-28 session. Treat them as a planning guide, and confirm against the official circular once it's released.

What's New for the 2027-28 Admission Cycle Specifically

• LKG and UKG become real admission entry points. Until now, only Nursery and a single "KG" class existed. From 2027-28, Lower KG and Upper KG are introduced as separate classes, each with its own age band.
• Nursery-to-LKG progression begins. Children who joined Nursery in 2026-27 under the new criteria move into LKG in 2027-28 — the first cohort to travel through the redesigned foundational stage.
• Direct LKG or UKG admission is possible for age-appropriate children. A child who hasn't attended a DoE-recognised Nursery elsewhere can still apply directly to LKG or UKG in 2027-28 if their age fits the relevant band.
• The Class 1 age rule continues to apply. The 6-to-7-year band for Class 1, in effect since 2026-27, carries forward into 2027-28.

The One-Month Relaxation — What It Means for Borderline Ages

The head of school may grant an age relaxation of up to one month on both the minimum and maximum age limits, for admissions from Nursery through Class 1. In practice, this gives some flexibility to children whose birthdate falls just outside a class's age band — but the relaxation is at the school's discretion, not automatic, so it's worth asking your shortlisted schools directly whether they apply it.

For parents considering VIS Dwarka, the VIS Dwarka admission information can be reviewed alongside the general DoE guidelines.

What About Children Already Enrolled?

The DoE has been explicit that existing students aren't affected by this restructuring:

• Children already in Nursery, KG, or Class 1 during 2025-26 continue to be promoted to the next class each year under the earlier norms.
• The new age bands apply only to fresh admissions from the relevant session onward — Nursery from 2026-27, LKG/UKG from 2027-28, and Class 1's uniform age from 2026-27.
• A child who holds a valid School Leaving Certificate and mark sheet from a recognised school is generally exempted from the fresh age criteria when moving to the next class.

How to Confirm Your Child's Eligibility — Step-by-Step

1. Find your child's date of birth on their birth certificate — this is the document schools will verify against.
2. Match it against the age band for the class you're targeting, using the table above.
3. Check whether your shortlisted school offers the one-month relaxation, if your child's age falls just outside the standard band.
4. Watch for the DoE's official 2027-28 circular, typically released around November of the preceding year, confirming exact registration dates and any further clarifications.
5. Cross-check the age criteria published on the school's own website before applying — schools are required to publish this alongside their point-based selection criteria.

Parents comparing nursery schools in Delhi should also check each school's published age criteria before applying.

Nursery vs LKG vs UKG vs Class 1 — Which Class Should My Child Apply To?

Parents can also explore the VIS curriculum to understand the school's broader approach to learning and the transition into formal primary education.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What are the age criteria for Nursery, LKG, and Class 1 admission in 2027-28?

A: For 2027-28, children must be 3 to 4 years old for Nursery, 4 to 5 years for LKG, 5 to 6 years for UKG, and 6 to 7 years for Class 1, all measured as on 31 March 2027, under the DoE's NEP-aligned foundational stage restructuring.

Q: What is the age limit for Nursery admission in Delhi?

A: A child must be 3 years old but under 4 years as on 31 March of the admission year, with schools able to grant up to a one-month relaxation at their discretion.

Q: Is LKG a new class in Delhi schools?

A: LKG (Lower KG, or Balvatika 2) exists as a distinct admission-entry class for the first time from the 2027-28 session, as part of the DoE's phased rollout of the NEP-aligned foundational stage.

Q: What is the minimum age for Class 1 admission in Delhi?

A: A child must have completed 6 years of age as on 31 March, a uniform rule the DoE has applied across all government, aided, and recognised private schools from the 2026-27 session onward.

Q: Can schools relax the age criteria?

A: Yes, heads of school have discretion to grant a relaxation of up to one month on both the minimum and maximum age limits, for admissions from Nursery through Class 1.

Q: Will my child be affected if they're already enrolled?

A: No. Children already enrolled in Nursery, KG, or Class 1 during the 2025-26 session continue to be promoted under the earlier structure — the new age bands apply only to fresh admissions.

Q: When will the DoE release the official 2027-28 admission circular?

A: Based on recent cycles, the DoE typically issues its detailed nursery-to-Class-1 admission notification around November of the preceding year, so expect the 2027-28 circular around November 2026.

Q: Where can I check a school's exact age criteria?

A: Schools are required to publish their admission criteria and age bands on their own websites, alongside the DoE's official notifications on edudel.nic.in.