Maharashtra will introduce six years as the minimum age for admission to Class 1 from the 2030–31 academic year, with revised age requirements for nursery and kindergarten admissions being implemented in phases from 2027–28. The state government's decision aims to bring greater uniformity to school admission rules across different education boards.

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According to a government resolution issued by the School Education Department, children must complete the prescribed minimum age by June 30 of the relevant academic year. The revised criteria will apply to new admissions, while children already enrolled in nursery through Class 1 during the 2026–27 academic year will be exempt from the changes.

The government will introduce the new age requirements over four academic years, covering Nursery or Balvatika-1, Junior Kindergarten or Balvatika-2, Senior Kindergarten or Balvatika-3, and finally Class 1. The phased approach is intended to give families and schools time to adjust to the revised admission requirements.

Under the new schedule, children seeking admission to Nursery or Balvatika-1 in 2027–28 must be at least three years old by June 30 of the relevant year. In 2028–29, the minimum age for Junior KG or Balvatika-2 will be four years. The following academic year, 2029–30, will require children entering Senior KG or Balvatika-3 to be at least five years old.

The final stage will take effect in 2030–31, when children must be at least six years old by June 30 to qualify for admission to Class 1 under the revised criteria.

The transition schedule is as follows:

  • 2027–28: Minimum age of three years for Nursery or Balvatika-1.

  • 2028–29: Minimum age of four years for Junior KG or Balvatika-2.

  • 2029–30: Minimum age of five years for Senior KG or Balvatika-3.

  • 2030–31: Minimum age of six years for Class 1.

Parents planning their children's school admissions should pay attention to the June 30 age cut-off, as eligibility will depend on whether the child has reached the prescribed age by that date. Families should also check the admission guidelines issued by their preferred school and the relevant education authority before submitting applications.

The phased implementation means that the revised criteria will not apply retrospectively to children already enrolled during the 2026–27 academic year, as specified in the government resolution. However, parents planning admissions in subsequent years should review the requirements applicable to their child's entry year.

The change is expected to affect admission planning for families across Maharashtra, particularly those preparing for nursery and kindergarten enrolment in the coming years. Schools will also need to communicate the revised requirements clearly to parents to help ensure a smoother transition.

Parents should refer to the official Maharashtra School Education Department government resolution for the complete rules, exemptions and implementation details.