Delhi nursery admission age criteria 2027-28: age limit and DOB windows
Delhi’s Directorate of Education has already defined the phased foundational-stage age structure for 2027-28. Age is assessed on 31 March 2027. For standard entry, Nursery covers children aged 3+ and under 4, Lower KG 4+ and under 5, and Upper KG 5+ and under 6. This age rule is separate from the 2027-28 admission timetable, which should only be treated as current once officially notified.
What date of birth is eligible for Delhi Nursery admission 2027-28?
For the standard Nursery (Balvatika 1) age band, the child should be born from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. Lower KG (Balvatika 2) corresponds to 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, and Upper KG (Balvatika 3) to 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. The DoE circular allows up to one month of minimum/maximum age relaxation at the Head of School level.
Primary source
Directorate of Education, GNCTD — Circular No. DE.23(749)/Sch.Br./2025/976, dated 24 October 2025, on the implementation of the uniform age of admission and restructuring of the foundational stage.
Read the official Delhi DoE circular2027-28 age bands
Nursery (Balvatika 1 / Pre-School 1)
3+ years up to 4 years
Born 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
New admissions continue in 2027-28. The child must have attained 3+ years as on 31 March 2027.
Lower KG (Balvatika 2 / Pre-School 2)
4+ years up to 5 years
Born 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Introduced from 2027-28. New admissions can be given if the child has attained 4+ years as on 31 March 2027.
Upper KG (Balvatika 3 / Pre-School 3)
5+ years up to 6 years
Born 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
Introduced from 2027-28. New admissions are for children who have attained 5+ years as on 31 March 2027.
Exactly 4 years versus 3 years 11 months
Age is measured on 31 March 2027. A child who is exactly 4 years old falls in the standard Lower KG (Balvatika 2) band. A child who is 3 years 11 months old falls in the standard Nursery (Balvatika 1) band.
The younger child may be considered for Lower KG only through the DoE's one-month minimum-age relaxation. That relaxation is decided by the Head of School and is not automatic.
One-month age relaxation
The same DoE circular states that the Head of School may grant one month of relaxation in the minimum as well as maximum age for Nursery to Class 1. Parents relying on relaxation should verify the school’s procedure and supporting-document requirements rather than assuming it is automatic.
What changes in 2027-28?
The 2027-28 session is an important transition year: Lower KG is introduced and new admissions at 4+ can be made; Upper KG is also introduced, with new admissions at 5+. Nursery continues for children in the 3+ age band. Existing cohorts progress according to the phased transition described in the DoE circular.
Age eligibility is only one part of admission planning
Being age-eligible does not determine selection. Private unaided schools publish their own admission criteria and points within the applicable framework. Parents should separately check each school’s current-cycle criteria, distance bands, supporting documents and deadlines.