Short answer: for children starting in 2027, most schools want nursery 3+, LKG 4+ and UKG 5+ on their cut-off date, and Class 1 is moving to 6+. Cut-off dates differ by state. City preschools usually open forms between October and December; neighbourhood preschools admit all year. Keep the birth certificate ready.
Preschool admissions in India are far gentler than Class 1 admissions, but they reward parents who start early and read the small print. Here is the timeline, the age rules and what to carry.
Which season is this?
Forms you fill between October 2026 and early 2027 are for the class your child joins in spring or June 2027. Schools that follow an April-to-March year call that the 2027-28 session; many parents and preschools still call this the 2026-27 admission season. Ask each school which session its form is for, because the age rule is tied to the session.
Entry ages by class
| Class | Age on the cut-off date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Playgroup | 2+ (some take 1.5+) | Often half-day; daycare takes younger children |
| Nursery | 3+ | The first year of NEP 2020's foundational stage |
| LKG (junior KG) | 4+ | Called Lower KG or Balvatika 2 in some states |
| UKG (senior KG) | 5+ | Called Upper KG or Balvatika 3 in some states |
| Class 1 | 6+ | The national target under NEP 2020 |
Why 6+ for Class 1? NEP 2020 treats ages 3 to 8 as one foundational stage: three years of preschool, then Classes 1 and 2. In February 2023 the Ministry of Education directed every state and union territory to align Class 1 admission with 6+ years. That pushes every preschool class back too, so the older bands you may have seen (nursery at 2.5, UKG at 4.5) no longer match most state rules.
Use the school admission age calculator: enter the date of birth, pick the school's cut-off date and it shows the exact age and the class your child fits.
Cut-off dates differ by state
- Delhi: the Directorate of Education's circular of 24 October 2025 counts age on 31 March. It sets nursery (Balvatika 1) at 3+ up to 4, Lower KG at 4+ up to 5, Upper KG at 5+ up to 6 and Class 1 at 6+ up to 7, brought in by phases. In the 2027-28 session Lower KG and Upper KG are introduced and nursery admission is 3+ on 31 March 2027; Class 1 moves to 6+ from 2028-29. Heads of school may relax the age by up to one month.
- Karnataka: counts age on 1 June, with 6 years the standard for Class 1. The state allowed a one-time relaxation of up to 60 days for 2026-27; check whether it is repeated.
- Maharashtra: counts age on 31 December, with 6 completed years for Class 1.
- Elsewhere: most states use 31 March or 1 June. The school's admission notice is the final word, so read it before you pay anything.
When to apply this season
- Branded and premium preschools in big cities: forms usually open October to December for a spring or June start, and popular centres can fill by February.
- Chennai and Kochi: many preschools follow a June academic start, so their admissions run a little later.
- Preschool sections of big schools in Delhi: follow the Directorate of Education's entry-level schedule, which is announced each winter; in the last cycle forms opened in December.
- Neighbourhood preschools: rolling admissions. You can usually join mid-year.
A simple plan:
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| October | Check eligibility, set a budget with the fee estimator, shortlist on your city page |
| November | Visit two or three schools with the 13-point visit checklist |
| December to January | Fill forms, collect written fee letters, compare the all-in totals |
| February | Confirm a seat and pay the admission fee |
| March to June | Settling-in visits, uniform, kit and transport |
What admission costs
Most preschools charge a one-time admission or registration fee on top of tuition. In our 2026 fee benchmarks the typical admission fee at a mid-range preschool runs from about ₹12,000 in Indore to ₹35,000 in Mumbai, and tuition varies even more by city. Compare cities in preschool fees by city.
Two rules protect you. Get the all-inclusive annual figure in writing before you pay. And know that for school admissions, section 13 of the Right to Education Act, 2009 bars capitation fees, meaning any donation or payment beyond the fee the school has notified.
Documents you'll need
- Birth certificate. The single most important document; it is your proof of age.
- Passport-size photos of the child and both parents.
- Address proof of a parent.
- Immunisation record.
- Any medical, allergy or special-needs information the school should know.
- Aadhaar, if your child has one. Schools often ask for it, but UIDAI's circular of 5 September 2018 says no child should be denied admission for want of Aadhaar.
What "interaction" should mean
A preschool interaction should be a conversation, not a test. The NCF for the Foundational Stage calls explicit tests and examinations "completely inappropriate" for this stage, and for admission to school the RTE Act forbids screening the child or the parents. Expect questions about your child's routine, sleep, food, allergies and toilet training. Be honest: it helps the school prepare, not reject.
Mid-year admissions
These are normal at preschool level. If you are relocating, ask for prorated term fees; most schools will adjust tuition, though kits are usually charged in full.
Red flags during admission
- Pressure to pay the full year on the spot "to hold the seat".
- No written fee breakup, or a "donation" outside the fee card.
- Any written test or assessment of a three-year-old.
- Refusal to let you see a classroom in session.
A good admission process is transparent. If it isn't, that tells you about the school itself. When you have a shortlist, our guide on how to choose a preschool covers what to look for on the visit.
Revised October 2026: entry ages corrected to the 6+ Class 1 rule, state cut-off dates and the Delhi restructuring added, timeline and fees updated for the 2026-27 admission season, and the Aadhaar and RTE rules cited.