State-Wise Nursery Admission Policy 2025 | Delhi, Maharashtra & More

Category: School Admissions

The admission process for nursery children is one of the biggest milestones for parents across India. Each year, thousands of families undergo the admissions process, trying to get a spot for their children in a well-known school. But the nursery admission policies in India are not uniform throughout the country.

Every state has its individual nursery admissions rules and age requirements, along with the required documents and guidelines regarding applying for the Right to Education (RTE) allocation. Although some states utilize online applications, other states adhere to a school-level procedure. Parents are often in a state of confusion, particularly when they move between states, such as Delhi and Maharashtra, in which the laws differ considerably.

This blog provides the state-specific nursery admission rules and provides a comprehensive review of Delhi, Maharashtra, and other states. The blog outlines the age requirements, admission procedure, documentation, and RTE quotas and web-based portals parents need to know before applying.

Understanding Nursery Admission in India

Before examining state-specific regulations before tackling state-specific rules, it's important to know the bigger view of the admissions rules for nursery schools within India 2025-26.

1. Age criteria: States typically establish an age minimum and a maximum to be admitted into a nursery. In this case, the Delhi nursery admission age requirement will require that children be three years old on March 31st of the year of admission. Different states might have different deadlines for admissions.
2. Private and Government schools: Private schools enjoy more freedom to set admissions criteria, but they must adhere to the rules of the government, including age cut-offs and RTE quotas. The majority of government schools follow districts or state-level portals that govern admissions.
3. Reservations and Quotas: This is the RTE quota for nursery admissions guarantees that 25% of the places are reserved for children of economically weaker classes (EWS) and groups with a low level of education (DG). Implementation of this quota differs from state to state.

4. Online portals: Digitalization has brought about the introduction of online portals. Several states, such as Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, have launched websites for admission to nursery schools to make admissions easier.

    

State-Wise Nursery Admission Rules

1. Nursery Admission in Delhi 2025

Delhi is among the states that are most organized regarding the guidelines for nursery admissions state-wise. This process is controlled through application to private schools as well as surveillance by the government.

Age Criteria

The Delhi nursery's age of admission requirements for the session 2025-26 include:

• Kindergarten (Pre-school): Child must be three years old on 30th March 2025..
• The KG (Pre-primary): 4 years old by the 31st of March in 2025.
• Class 1: Six years old by 31st March 2025.

It ensures uniformity and also stops schools from admitting minors or students who are overage.

Admission Process in Delhi Private Schools

The nursery admissions process at Delhi school privates uses a points-based system, which typically takes into account factors like local distance and alumni status, and siblings' preference. If the number of students is greater than the number of seats available, the schools employ a nursery lottery in Delhi in order to ensure the fairness of.

Documents Required for Nursery Admission Delhi 2025

Parents are required to keep these at hand:

• Birth certificate for the baby
• Documentation of residency (Aadhaar or Voter ID, Passport, etc.)
• Photographs of children in passport-sized format and parents
• Certificate of income (for EWS/DG quote)
• Certificate of Caste (if appropriate)

EWS/DG Quota in Delhi

In the EWS/DG quota for nursery admissions, 25% of the seats are allocated. Parents can apply for admission through their Directorate of Education (DoE) website.

2. Nursery Admission in Maharashtra

Maharashtra has a bit different arrangement compared to Delhi. Let's break down.

Age Criteria

• Nursery: Children should have completed 3 years of age by the 31st December in the Admission year.
• Kg (Jr. KG): 4 years until December 31st.

The cut-off time is distinct from Delhi's March 31 rule. This makes it vital for parents to verify state-specific nursery admission guidelines.

Admission Process

It is important to note that the entry into the nursery in Maharashtra rules includes both school-level and monitored by the government. Although many private schools manage admissions on their own, however, the RTE quota for nursery admissions will be filled by the system of state's online lottery system.

Documents Required for Maharashtra Nursery Admissions

Parents must be aware of these things in mind:

• Birth certificate
• Proof of address (Aadhaar or Ration Card, Electricity bill)
• Income certificate to EWS Quote
• Certificate of Caste (if appropriate)

• Recent passport photographs

   

3. Nursery Admission Guidelines in Other States

Although Delhi and Maharashtra are frequently in the spotlight, there are other states that have rules that are clearly defined. Here is a glance at the state-specific nursery admission regulations in India, detailed:

Key Factors in Nursery Admission Policies

1. Minimum Age for Nursery Admission

One of the greatest challenges to parents and their children is the minimum age required for entry into nursery schools in the different states in India. As an example:

• Delhi - March 31 cut-off
• Maharashtra - December 31 cut-off
• Karnataka & Gujarat - June cut-off

A child who is qualified in one state could not be eligible in a different state.

2. Documents Required for Nursery Admission 2025

Across the states, among states, the most frequently used document types are:

• Birth certificate
• Aadhaar Card (child or parents)
• Address evidence
• Certificate of Caste (if required)
• Certificate of income (for EWS/RTE quotas)
• Recent passport-size photographs

3. RTE Act in Nursery Admissions

According to the Right to Education (RTE) Act the RTE Act, 25% of seats are reserved for the EWS/DG groups from kindergarten onwards in the majority of states. However, implementation of the law varies according to the state.

4. Online Admission Portals

Thanks to digitization, many states have now opted to use websites for nursery admissions. Delhi and Maharashtra have the top position, and states such as Gujarat and Rajasthan have also launched RTE lotteries online.

Step-by-Step Nursery Admission Process State-Wise

Each state has its own unique characteristics, but the preliminary admission procedure for India is described in these steps:

1. Verify Age Criteria: Check eligibility according to state regulations.
2. Find Schools List government schools as well as private schools.
3. Submit applications: online (if the portal exists) or pick up school applications.
4. Document preparation: Keep all necessary documents ready.
5. Lottery/Selection Method: In states with lotteries, such as Delhi and the RTE seats in Maharashtra.

6. Admission Confirmation Fees must be submitted, and then confirm your admission.

    

Common Challenges for Parents

• Confusion over age cut-offs: The different states have different dates.
• Limited seats in top schools: Competition is high within metropolitan areas.
• Understanding the lottery system: especially the lottery system in Delhi and Maharashtra.
• Technical glitches in online portals: Parents are often faced with delays when they apply.

• Knowledge of RTE Quota rules: A lot of families are left out because of a lack of understanding.

   

Expert Tips for Parents

1. Get started early and keep track of school admission rules by states India.
2. Be prepared with your documents in advance when admissions open.
3. Explore both government and private schools for better chances.
4. Check official sites regularly to find out about any notifications.

5. Apply to multiple schools for a better chance of admission.

    

Conclusion

The admissions process for nursery children for applicants in India may be daunting due to the different rules between states. In contrast, Delhi nursery admissions 2025 have a March cut-off and a lottery-like system, and Maharashtra nursery admission guidelines include a cut-off date of December that applies to both school-level as well as online applications to RTE. Some states, like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, also have unique rules.

To parents, knowing the rules of admission to nursery schools in India for India described is the initial step to a successful admission process. Maintaining a record of the documents, age requirements, and RTE Quotas can help avoid stress at the last minute.

Skoodos simplifies the admission process for nursery children. By providing State-specific guidelines, verified information about schools, and individualized assistance, Skoodos helps parents make an informed decision. Begin the nursery admissions procedure in India 2025-26 without trepidation.