Most guides tell you a child must be six for Class 1. What they leave out is the part that actually decides eligibility: the cut-off date differs from state to state. A child born in May 2020 can enter Class 1 in Maharashtra in 2026-27 and be turned away in Delhi on the same birthday.
This is the state-wise age criteria chart for school admission 2026-27 — what each major state uses, and what it means if you move.
State-Wise Cut-Off Dates at a Glance
| State / UT | Cut-Off Date | Class 1 Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 31 March 2026 | 5+ years (6+ from 2028-29) |
| Maharashtra | 31 December 2026 | 6+ years, below 7 |
| Karnataka | 1 June 2026 | 5+ years, with 60-day relaxation for 2026-27 |
| Tamil Nadu | 31 July 2026 | Born 1 Aug 2019 – 31 Jul 2020 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1 April 2026 | 6 to 7 years |
| Gujarat | 1 June 2026 | 6+ years (state board schools) |
| Telangana | 31 March 2026 | 6 to 7 years |
| West Bengal | 31 March 2026 | 6+ years, below 7 |
Private schools affiliated to CBSE or CISCE usually follow the state rule where they operate, but not always. Confirm with the individual school.
Delhi
Delhi's Directorate of Education introduced a uniform age structure from 2026-27 across government, aided and recognised unaided private schools, with both a minimum and a maximum age:
- Nursery (Balvatika 1): 3 to 4 years
- Lower KG (Balvatika 2): 4 to 5 years — new admissions from 2026
- Upper KG (Balvatika 3): 5 to 6 years
- Class 1: 6 to 7 years, applicable from 2028-29
This last point is widely misreported. For the 2026-27 session, Delhi Class 1 entry remains at 5+; the 6+ requirement phases in later, as children admitted to Nursery in 2026 progress through the new LKG and UKG classes being introduced from 2027-28.
Heads of schools may relax both the minimum and maximum age by up to one month. Students transferring with a valid School Leaving Certificate from a recognised school are exempt from age-appropriate criteria for the next class.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is the outlier, and in a way that helps parents. Its cut-off is 31 December, not 31 March — a full nine months later than most states. Class 1 requires a child to be 6 years and under 7 as on that date.
Practically, a child born between April and December 2020 is eligible for Class 1 in Maharashtra in 2026-27, but would wait another year in Delhi or West Bengal. Maharashtra has also relaxed minimum age cut-offs for kindergarten and Class 1 entry in response to parent representations.
Karnataka
Karnataka uses a 1 June cut-off. For the 2026-27 session the state government announced a 60-day relaxation in the Class 1 age norm, following pressure from parents whose children fell just short.
If your child is close to the boundary in Karnataka, this relaxation is worth confirming in writing with the school — it applies to this session and should not be assumed permanent.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu works on a 31 July cut-off. For Class 1 in 2026-27, children born between 1 August 2019 and 31 July 2020 are eligible — a window shifted four months from the March-cut-off states.
Uttar Pradesh
UP calculates age as on 1 April 2026, with Class 1 eligibility at 6 to 7 years. The state's RTE 25% quota admissions for private schools run on a published multi-round schedule with a lottery, covering Nursery, LKG, UKG and Class 1.
Gujarat
Gujarat moved to a 6-year minimum for Class 1 as on 1 June from the 2023-24 session. The rule applies to primary schools affiliated to the Gujarat State Board; CBSE and CISCE schools in the state may apply their own cut-off, so check before assuming.
Telangana and West Bengal
Both follow the mainstream 31 March cut-off with Class 1 at 6 to 7 years — the same window as the national chart.
What This Means If You Are Relocating
Moving between states mid-schooling is where families get caught out. Four things to check before you move:
- Your child may lose or gain a year. A child in Class 1 in Maharashtra may be too young for Class 2 in Delhi the following year under a 31 March cut-off.
- The School Leaving Certificate is your protection. Most states exempt students with a valid SLC and mark sheet from a recognised school from age-appropriate criteria when joining the next class. Collect it before you leave — retrieving one afterwards is painful.
- Board matters as much as state. A CBSE school in Gujarat may use 31 March while the state board school next door uses 1 June.
- Ask in writing. Get the destination school's age policy by email before you commit to a move or a lease. Verbal assurances at the admissions desk are not binding.
Why the Dates Differ at All
The academic year does not begin at the same time everywhere. Most of India starts in April, which makes a 31 March cut-off natural. Maharashtra and Karnataka begin in June, so their cut-offs sit later. Tamil Nadu's school year and monsoon calendar push its date to July.
NEP 2020 has standardised the structure — a 5+3+3+4 framework with a Foundational Stage covering ages 3 to 8 — and the Ministry of Education has directed states to adopt a 6-year Class 1 minimum. But the cut-off date remains a state subject, and several states are phasing changes in over several years rather than all at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the most lenient age cut-off? Maharashtra, with 31 December — nine months later than the 31 March states, so children born through the calendar year remain eligible.
Is the Class 1 age 6 years in Delhi for 2026-27? No. Delhi's 6+ Class 1 rule takes effect from 2028-29. For 2026-27, Class 1 entry is 5+ as on 31 March 2026.
Can my child change states mid-year? Usually yes, with a valid School Leaving Certificate, which generally exempts a transferring student from age criteria for the next class. Confirm with the receiving school first.
Does the RTE 25% quota use the same age rules? RTE quota admissions follow each state's own age norms and cut-off dates, with separate application windows and a lottery. Age criteria are the same as general admission in most states.
What if my child misses the cut-off by a few days? There is no general relaxation. Exceptions: Delhi allows heads of schools up to one month's discretion, Karnataka has a 60-day relaxation for 2026-27, and most states relax age for children with a valid disability certificate.
Which cut-off applies to a CBSE school in Maharashtra? Usually the state's, but CBSE schools sometimes apply 31 March. This is exactly the case to confirm in writing with the school.
Next Steps
Identify your state's cut-off in the table above, then work out your child's eligible class from our complete age chart for school admission 2026-27, which gives the exact birth-date window for every class from Nursery to Class 12.
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