Education Ministry Mandates Grade 1 Admission Age to Six-Plus Years, Effective 2024-25 Session

Alignment with National Education Policy and RTE Act Marks Significant Step in Education Reform Agenda

In a recent development, the Education Ministry has issued a directive urging all states and Union territories to ensure that the age of admission to Grade 1 is six years or above starting from the academic session of 2024-25.

Citing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the Ministry emphasizes the importance of aligning admission policies with these provisions.

The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, conveyed this directive in a letter dated 15th February 2024. The letter references prior communications urging compliance with NEP 2020 and RTE Act, 2009.

States and UTs are expected to have adjusted their admission criteria accordingly, ensuring that children entering Grade 1 are at least six years old. With the 2024-25 session set to commence shortly, the Ministry emphasizes the need for prompt implementation of this policy.

The Ministry has requested states and UTs to provide updates on the implementation status of this directive by the 20th of February 2024, emphasizing the importance of personal oversight to ensure compliance.

This move underscores the Ministry's commitment to aligning education policies with contemporary educational frameworks, aiming to provide a strong foundation for students' academic journey while ensuring their holistic development.

Number of Schools

According to the UDISE+ data for 2021-22, the total number of schools in India is 14,89,115, and the total number of students currently enrolled in schools across India stands at 26,52,35,830. Amidst the ongoing CBSE board examinations for classes 10 and 12, a significant cohort of students is preparing diligently for these pivotal assessments. According to CBSE statistics, over 39 lakh students from India and 26 other nations are currently enrolled to undertake the Class 10 and Class 12 Board exams this year. The Class 10 board examinations are scheduled to conclude on March 13, 2024, followed by the Class 12 exams on April 2. Notably, the preceding year of 2023 witnessed a combined total of 38.82 lakh students participating in the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations.