Best Schools in Delhi

Education and admission are intertwined with each other. In order to enter the world of education, one has to first cross an essential step of admissions. This is the reason why admission becomes a “buzz” word in almost every step of education. Delhi school admissions come into the limelight every year. Being a capital city, Delhi becomes an essential center for growth and development and schooling becomes a foundation for that growth. As a massive metropolitan area, Delhi has some of the top schools in India with extensive facilities that make them special. The capital city has students from every state and the number keeps on expanding every year. Finding the best fit for a child is certainly a tumultuous task for parents. Understanding the grieving process of the best school selection in Delhi, find here the list of schools in Delhi. 

Due to the rising population, Admissions in Delhi schools are always very competitive. The pandemic and lockdown further shifted everything online. Hence, the steps of admission have also been drastically changed in past one and a half years. 

Schools in Delhi follow the following criteria for nursery class admission.

• The private unaided schools in Delhi follow a ‘Point System’.
• The Points are allotted as per the ‘Selection Criteria’ approved by the schools.
• The number of maximum points is 100.
• The applicant with the highest points is chosen as per the availability of seats in the school.
• If there is a ‘Same Scores’ issue, schools use a Lucky draw as the decisive factor.

School decides the final results based on the point allotment. You can use the point calculator for Delhi schools.

Searching for private schools in Delhi can be a confusing task especially when there are so many top private schools. You can ease your task of finding the top private schools in Delhi by going to the Explore section of UniApply.com. Here you can further shortlist schools as per your preferences, such as board, fee range, class, location, etc. To find the schools nearest to you, hover over the Near Me button and find an extensive list of private schools in Delhi that are near your residence. 

The Directorate of Education (DoE), Government of NCT of Delhi, has officially announced a major change in the school admission structure. Starting from the academic session 2026–27, Delhi schools will begin implementing a uniform age of 6+ years for admission to Class 1, along with a restructured Foundational Stage in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

This change will be rolled out in phases across government, government-aided, and recognised private unaided schools in Delhi.

The circular (No. DE.23(749)/Sch.Br./2025/976 dated 24.10.2025) clearly states that:

• The minimum age for admission to Class 1 will now be 6 years or above, effective from 2026–27.

• The Foundational Stage will include three years of preschool (Balvatika 1 to Balvatika 3) followed by Class 1 and Class 2.

• The revised age criteria will be implemented gradually from 2026–27, ensuring a smooth transition for ongoing batches.

This aligns Delhi’s education structure with NEP 2020, which recommends 5 years of foundational learning (3 years of preschool + Classes 1 and 2).

The new age rule and Foundational Stage structure will be introduced in phases to avoid disruption for students already enrolled.

• New admissions to Nursery (Balvatika 1) will be for children aged 3+ years as on 31 March 2026.

• Lower KG and Upper KG will not exist yet under the new structure.

• Students already in Nursery or KG in 2025–26 will move to the next class normally.

• Class 1 admissions will require a minimum age of 6+ years as on 31 March 2026.

• Lower KG (Balvatika 2) will be introduced.

• Nursery students from 2026–27 will move to Lower KG.

• Admissions to Lower KG will be for children aged 4+ years.

• Students will continue transitioning naturally through Upper KG and Class 1.

• Upper KG (Balvatika 3) will be introduced.

• By this session, the complete Foundational Stage (Nursery to Class 2) will follow the new 3–8 years structure.

• Uniformity Across Schools: All government, aided, and private unaided schools in Delhi must follow this structure.

• Age Relaxation: Heads of schools can allow up to one-month relaxation on both minimum and maximum age limits (Nursery to Class 1).

• No Impact on Current Students: The new rule will not affect children already enrolled in Nursery to Class 1 in 2025–26.

• Transfer Students: Children moving from recognised schools with valid transfer certificates will be exempted from strict age criteria.

• Clarity for Parents: Schools are instructed to inform parents clearly about the new admission age rules during the admission process.

The decision brings Delhi’s school system in line with the National Education Policy 2020, ensuring that:

• Children enter formal schooling (Class 1) only after completing three years of preschool learning.

• The foundational years (ages 3–8) are structured for holistic development—covering play-based, activity-based, and discovery-oriented learning.

• There’s uniformity across states, as many have already adopted the 6+ age norm for Class 1.

If your child will be entering school in 2026–27 or later, make sure to:

• Check your child’s age eligibility before applying for Nursery or Class 1.

• Follow official DoE Delhi circulars and notifications for updates on admission schedules.

• Explore schools through trusted platforms like UniApply, where you can view age criteria, admission timelines, and school details in one place.

According to the circular signed by Veditha Reddy (IAS), Director of Education,

“All Heads of Schools are directed to inform parents clearly about the change and follow the revised age rules strictly.”

The Uniform 6+ Admission Age Rule marks a significant shift in Delhi’s early education landscape. With phased implementation and clarity from the Directorate of Education, parents and schools will now have a clear roadmap toward a more balanced and age-appropriate learning system.