If you are a parent in Delhi, you already know how competitive nursery admissions can become every year. However, Delhi Nursery admissions for the 2026 session bring several important updates that every parent must understand before filling out the form. Because the Directorate of Education (DoE) follows specific rules for private unaided schools, even small mistakes can delay your child’s application or reduce your chances of selection. Therefore, this guide explains everything clearly so that parents can confidently complete the admission process without confusion.
What Is the Delhi Nursery Admission Process
The Delhi Nursery admission process is managed by the Directorate of Education Delhi for all private, unaided, recognised schools in the capital. Moreover, Delhi follows a point-based admission system for Nursery, KG and Class 1 admissions under the open/general seats category.
The DoE releases guidelines every December for the next academic year. Additionally, schools publish their own admission criteria, points system and required documents on their websites as per government rules.
- Official portal for verified information:
https://www.edudel.nic.in
Delhi Nursery Admission 2026: Key Dates Parents Must Track
To help parents plan better, here are the important dates expected for the Delhi Nursery 2026 admission cycle. These dates follow the standard yearly pattern of the DoE.
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Notification release: December 2025
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Admission forms available: December 2025
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Last date to submit forms: January 2026
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First merit list: January 2026
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Second merit list: February 2026
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Admission verification: February to March 2026
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Session begins: April 2026
Although these dates follow the usual timeline, parents must regularly check the DoE website because updates can appear anytime.
Age Criteria for Delhi Nursery Admission 2026
Delhi follows strict age rules for Nursery, KG and Class 1 admissions. Therefore, parents must read this carefully.
Expected age limits:
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Nursery: 3 years by 31 March 2026
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KG (LKG): 4 years by 31 March 2026
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Class 1: 5 years by 31 March 2026
Moreover, Delhi allows up to 30 days relaxation for children who fall short of the age requirement, but parents need to apply for this separately.
How Schools Allocate Seats Under Delhi Nursery Admissions
Every private school must follow DoE guidelines for seat distribution. This helps maintain transparency and fairness.
Seat breakup usually includes:
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Open seats (General Category)
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EWS and DG category seats
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Management quota seats
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Staff quota seats
However, parents applying for general seats must specifically understand the point-based system, because this system decides the chances of selection.
Common criteria in point system:
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Distance from school
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Sibling studying in the same school
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Alumni parents
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Girl child
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Single parent
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Staff ward
Additionally, each school must upload its complete point structure on its website before accepting forms, as mandated by the DoE.
Required Documents for Delhi Nursery 2026
Because documentation errors are common, parents should prepare all papers before filling out the form.
Required documents include:
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Child’s birth certificate
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Passport-size photograph of child
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ID proof of parents
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Residence proof
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Vaccination/health record (if required by school)
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Sibling proof (if applicable)
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Alumni certificate (if applicable)
Furthermore, some schools may ask for additional documents. Therefore, parents should read each school’s admission notice carefully.
How to Apply for Delhi Nursery Admission 2026
Here is a simple step-by-step guide for parents.
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Visit your chosen school’s official website
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Download or fill the online admission form
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Complete all fields carefully
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Upload scanned documents if applying online
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Submit the form within the deadline
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Save the receipt or acknowledgement
Additionally, parents must check whether the school accepts offline forms, online forms or both, because different schools follow different systems.
How Schools Prepare Merit Lists for Nursery Admissions
Private schools in Delhi are required to follow transparency rules. Consequently, they must publish two merit lists based on the point system.
First merit list includes:
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Selected students based on maximum points
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Waiting list students
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Details of criteria and points
Second merit list includes:
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Remaining seats
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Second-round selections
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Updated waiting list
Moreover, schools must resolve parent queries during the “grievance window,” which usually opens after the first list.
EWS and DG Category Admissions
For EWS (Economically Weaker Section) and DG (Disadvantaged Group) categories, the DoE conducts centralized admissions through an online lottery system.
- Official link for EWS/DG admissions:
https://www.edudel.nic.in
Important notes for EWS/DG:
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Admission is free
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Income certificate is mandatory for EWS
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Caste certificate required for certain DG categories
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Seats are allotted through lottery, not the point system
Furthermore, parents selected under EWS/DG must complete verification at the allotted school within the given timeline.
Common Mistakes Parents Should Avoid
To improve your child’s chances in Delhi Nursery admissions, avoid these common issues:
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Filling multiple forms incorrectly
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Submitting forms on the last day
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Uploading unclear photographs
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Missing mandatory documents
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Selecting too few schools
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Ignoring the distance criteria
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Not checking updates on school websites
Additionally, parents should never rely on unofficial WhatsApp forwards or social media posts. Instead, depend only on official portals.
Tips for Parents to Improve Chances of Selection
Because the process is competitive, parents need a simple strategy.
Useful tips:
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Apply to multiple schools
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Choose schools within 0–6 km radius
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Check sibling and alumni criteria
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Keep documents ready in advance
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Track every date and notification
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Read the school’s point system carefully
Moreover, parents should always fill out accurate information because schools conduct verification before final admission.
Official Websites for Verified Information
Always refer to official sources for updated notifications.
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Delhi DoE Main Website: https://www.edudel.nic.in
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School Recognition and Regulations: https://www.edudel.nic.in/welcome_folder/doe_website.htm
These links provide reliable updates, guidelines and circulars.
Final Summary
Delhi Nursery admissions for the 2026 session require careful attention because the process follows specific rules, deadlines and point-based criteria. With clear age guidelines, structured document requirements, official merit lists and separate EWS/DG admissions, parents must stay alert throughout the cycle. Therefore, by following official updates, choosing schools wisely and preparing documents early, parents can ensure a smoother admission experience for their child.
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