Karnataka Relaxes Minimum Age Rule for Class 1 Admissions
Children aged 5 years 10 months now eligible for 2026–27 academic year
The Karnataka government has announced a relaxation in the minimum age requirement for Class 1 admissions for the academic year 2026–27.
Speaking in the Assembly on Thursday, Primary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said that the current minimum age limit of 6 years will be eased by two months. This means children who are at least 5 years and 10 months old will now be eligible to enroll in Class 1.
The minister added that the government is also working on a long-term solution for admissions to LKG and UKG classes. He said a new law is likely to be introduced soon to bring clarity and consistency to early childhood education admissions.
Highlighting concerns from parents, Bangarappa noted that many families have been confused by the existing rules and have had to make repeated visits to schools for clarification. In response, the government has decided to provide this one-time relaxation.
The exemption has been granted under provisions of the Karnataka Education Act, 1993, allowing a 60-day relaxation in the age criteria. The minister also confirmed that necessary updates will be made to the admission software to reflect the revised eligibility rules.
The move is expected to benefit many parents and students across the state who were affected by the strict age cutoff.
