Govt directs states to set minimum age of 6 for Class 1 admission

In accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the Central Government has instructed all states and Union Territories to establish six years as the minimum age requirement for admission to Class 1.

The Department of School Education and Literacy within the Ministry of Education (MoE) has reaffirmed its directives to state governments and Union Territory administrations through a letter. These directions, originally issued since the launch of the NEP in 2020, have been reiterated multiple times. A similar notice was also issued last year.

"The session 2024-25 is soon to begin when new admissions will take place. It is expected that the age in your State/UT has now been aligned to 6+ for admission to Grade-I, accordingly," the ministry said in its letter dated February 15, 2024.