Karnataka Lowers Minimum Age for Class 1 Admission in 2025-26

State Government Relaxes Age Criteria Following Parental Requests

Responding to parental requests, the Karnataka state government has eased the age requirements for Class 1 enrollment in the 2025-26 academic year. Now, children who turn five years and five months old by June 1, 2025, and have completed UKG or an equivalent level can join Class 1 in Karnataka schools following the state syllabus.

Temporary Relaxation and Eligibility Criteria

• This age relaxation is only applicable for the 2025-26 academic year.
• From the next academic year onwards, a child must be six years old by June 1 for Class 1 admission.
• The State Education Policy committee recommended this age relaxation.
• Eligible children include those who have passed LKG or UKG and are five years and five months old, as well as those who have completed three years in anganwadi and are five years and five months old.

This relaxation applies to state syllabus schools only. Central board schools are governed by their respective boards, and it is up to them to issue an order in this regard.

Advice for Parents

School education minister Madhu Bangarappa has urged parents not to treat their children like machines and to let them enjoy their childhood. He advised against enrolling children in schools before they reach the appropriate age.

Background and Previous Changes

In July 2022, the state government had raised the minimum age required to enroll in Class 1 from five years and five months to six years. This change was justified as being in line with the Right to Education and National Education Policy. However, parents and schools objected to it as admissions had already been completed for that academic year.

After protests, the department issued a circular in November 2022, stating that the new rule would be applicable only from 2025-26. However, those who had joined nursery (pre-KG) in 2022-23 would not have met the age criteria in 2025-26. In view of this, parents approached the school education department, seeking exemption for the current batch.

Worried parents pointed out that having their children repeat another year in kindergarten would not only mean additional financial burden but also cause emotional stress for the children as they would be unable to seek promotion.