Karnataka Relaxes School Entry Age: 60-Day Relief For Class 1, LKG, UKG Admissions

The Government of Karnataka has granted a 60-day relaxation in age eligibility for Class 1 admissions for the 2026-27 academic year, allowing children who are 5 years and 10 months old as of June 1, 2026 to enroll. The relief will also apply to LKG and UKG admissions, addressing widespread concerns among parents over stricter age rules.

School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa announced the decision in the Assembly, stating that the move is intended to reduce confusion and prevent disruption in early schooling. The relaxation comes after strong objections from families who feared that enforcing the six-year minimum age rule would delay their children's education by a full year.

Earlier, the state had planned to strictly implement the rule requiring children to complete six years of age by June 1, in line with the Right to Education Act and the National Education Policy 2020. Without any flexibility, children who fell short of the age cutoff-even after completing UKG-would have been ineligible for Class 1.

Officials estimate that nearly 2.5 lakh students in Karnataka could have been affected by the stricter rule. Parents had also raised concerns about children born during the COVID-19 pandemic, whose early education was already disrupted, making an additional year's delay particularly challenging.

Karnataka had first revised its school entry age in July 2022, increasing it from five years and five months to six years to align with national norms. However, resistance from parents led to delays in enforcement, with full implementation pushed to the 2026-27 academic year.

Alongside the relaxation, the government has indicated plans to introduce a formal regulatory framework for LKG and UKG admissions, which currently lack clear legal structure. The proposed legislation, expected in a future Assembly session, aims to bring consistency and clarity to early childhood education in the state.

The latest decision offers immediate relief to parents while allowing the state to continue aligning with national education policies without causing disruption to students' academic progression.