In a significant move, the Karnataka government has decided to temporarily waive the mandatory 6-year minimum age rule for Class 1 admissions in state schools. This exemption applies only for the academic year 2025-26, as a one-time concession.
This decision comes after numerous appeals from parents and a formal recommendation by the State Education Policy Commission. As per the revised guideline, children aged 5.5 years or older, who have completed UKG or an equivalent level, will now be eligible for Class 1 admissions in 2025-26.
School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, in a press briefing, emphasized that this is a one-time exception. From the academic year 2026-27 onwards, the original requirement—children must be 6 years old by June to enter Class 1—will be strictly enforced.
The age policy was initially changed by the previous BJP-led government in July 2022, raising the minimum admission age from 5.5 to 6 years. This adjustment aimed to align Karnataka’s education system with the Right to Education Act and the National Education Policy (NEP), which many other states had already implemented.
However, widespread objections from parents and educators—mainly because the policy was introduced mid-year—led the education department to delay its implementation. A formal circular in November 2022 clarified that the 6-year rule would officially begin from the 2025-26 academic session.