New Delhi: Maharashtra has outlined a four-year transition plan to establish a minimum age of six years for Class 1 admissions, with the policy fully taking effect in the 2030-31 academic year. Rather than enforcing the change immediately, the state government is introducing the requirements in stages, starting with nursery admissions during the 2027-28 term.
According to a government resolution released by the School Education Department, a child's age will be evaluated as of June 30 for each specific academic year. This adjustment is designed to align local admission policies with the National Education Policy 2020 and resolve discrepancies in age thresholds across institutions affiliated with different educational boards.
The phased rollout establishes progressive age thresholds for each preliminary grade level. For the 2027-28 academic year, the minimum age for nursery or Balvatika-1 will be three years. This progresses to four years for Junior KG or Balvatika-2 in 2028-29, five years for Senior KG or Balvatika-3 in 2029-30, and finally six years for Class 1 starting in the 2030-31 term.
State officials noted that prior to this resolution, various schools under state, national, and international boards followed differing age criteria, alongside a lack of standardized rules for pre-primary entry. The Directorate of Primary Education in Pune is expected to release comprehensive instructions and further admission guidelines soon.
Students who are already enrolled in nursery through Class 1 during the 2026-27 academic year will be exempt from the updated criteria. Additionally, children who have successfully completed a previous grade at a recognized institution will not face the revised age restrictions when transitioning to the next grade level. Furthermore, school administrators possess the authority to grant a 15-day relaxation window regarding minimum and maximum age limits for admissions spanning from nursery up to Class 1.