Karnataka Eases Age Norms For Class 1 Admissions For 2025-26, One-Time Relaxation Announced

The Karnataka government has granted a one-time relaxation in the minimum age requirement for Class 1 admissions for the academic year 2025–26, allowing children aged 5 years and 5 months as of June 1, 2025, to enroll. This is a temporary deviation from the mandated age of six years, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

One-Time Relaxation Announced

Minister for School Education and Literacy, Madhu Bangarappa, announced the decision, clarifying that the relaxation is a one-time measure and will not be extended to subsequent academic years, reported Times of India. From 2026–27 onwards, the state will strictly enforce the minimum age limit of six years, in line with the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and the Compulsory Education Rules, 2012.

Those children who have completed pre-primary education and turn five years and five months by June 1, 2025, will be eligible for Class 1 admission, Bangarappa said during a press briefing, as per a report on Indian Express.

The move follows intense discussions within the education department and consultations with the State Education Policy Commission, which had reviewed the proposal in the broader context of constitutional guidelines, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and international standards, as per reports. The commission emphasised the need to uphold the six-year benchmark to ensure children’s cognitive readiness and reduce early academic stress.

However, in light of widespread concerns from parents whose children have completed pre-primary schooling under the assumption of earlier eligibility, the government chose to offer transitional relief this year.

In addition to the Class 1 decision, the minister reiterated that starting from 2025–26, the minimum age for Lower Kindergarten (LKG) and Upper Kindergarten (UKG) admissions will remain four and five years respectively, as per the government order issued on June 26, 2024.

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