Karnataka Class 1 Admission 2025: Age Criteria changed, 6-year Minimum mandatory from Next Session

According to the updated directive from the Department of School Education and Literacy, children who will have completed 5 years and 5 months by June 1, 2025, will now be eligible for admission to Class 1 in state board schools.

Karnataka School Admission 2025: In a significant move aimed at addressing parental concerns, the Karnataka government has announced a one-time relaxation in the age criteria for Class 1 admissions for the academic year 2025–26. According to the updated directive from the Department of School Education and Literacy, children who will have completed 5 years and 5 months by June 1, 2025, will now be eligible for admission to Class 1 in state board schools.

Karnataka School Admission 2025: Addressing Parental Concerns

The decision comes after repeated appeals from parents who were adversely affected by the sudden change in the age norms. Many parents had enrolled their children in nursery classes in May 2022, based on the earlier age eligibility of 5.5 years, only to face difficulties when the age requirement was later revised to 6 years in July 2022. The formal notification for this change was issued only in November 2022, leading to confusion and concerns about the eligibility of many children who had already progressed through nursery and kindergarten.

Government’s Transitional Solution

To address this issue, the government has decided to implement a 7-month relaxation as a transitional arrangement for the 2025–26 academic year. This one-time relaxation will allow children who turn 5 years and 5 months old by June 1, 2025, to be admitted to Class 1. However, the government has emphasized that from the 2026–27 academic year onwards, the 6-year minimum age rule will be strictly enforced for all Class 1 admissions in Karnataka state board schools.

Alignment with State Education Policy

The move to revise the age criteria is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to implement recommendations from the State Education Policy. The policy suggests that the 6-year minimum age is more aligned with developmentally appropriate standards for children to begin formal schooling. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa had earlier stated that this revision was intended to align Karnataka’s educational system with national standards and to ensure that children are adequately prepared for academic learning.

Applicability to State Board Schools Only

It is important to note that the revised age rule applies only to state board schools in Karnataka. Schools affiliated with CBSE, ICSE, and other boards will continue to follow their own age eligibility criteria, which may differ from those set by the state government.

What Parents Need to Know

With admissions for the 2025–26 academic session under the one-time exemption, parents are urged to carefully review official school circulars and ensure their children meet the relaxed age criteria before applying. The state government has also advised that this adjustment is only temporary, and future admissions will follow the updated 6-year age norm.

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