Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 17: In a welcome move for parents, the Karnataka government has relaxed the age criteria for class 1 admissions for the current academic year, following recommendations from the State Education Policy Commission. A temporary report on easing the age limit has been submitted, and the department of school education has now officially announced its decision.

As per the revised guidelines, children who are 5 years and 5 months old will now be eligible for admission to class 1. Previously, as per the state curriculum, it was mandatory for children to have completed 6 years of age to be admitted to class 1.

Only children who have completed LKG and UKG will be allowed to enter class 1, and they must have attained the age of 5 years and 5 months. Education minister Madhu Bangarappa clarified that this is a one-time relaxation granted due to parental requests and will not apply from the next academic year. From the following year onward, the 6-year age criterion will be strictly enforced.

According to a directive issued by the school education department in November 2022, children must have completed 6 years of age by June 1, 2025, to be eligible for admission to class 1 for the 2025–26 academic year. This rule had become a barrier for thousands of children seeking admission, prompting many parents to appeal for a relaxation of the age limit in line with the earlier norm.

Consequently, children who are 5 years and 5 months old will be eligible for class 1 admissions this year. Simultaneously, the minimum age for LKG admission has been set at 4 years. This age relaxation applies only to schools following the state curriculum. The minister clarified that the state government does not have the authority to impose this rule on ICSE or CBSE boards.