Haryana Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here today accorded approval to amendments in Haryana School Education Rules, 2003 regarding change in age criteria for admission to Class-I in compliance with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. These rules will be called the Haryana School Education (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the office gazette. As per the existing provisions contained in Clauses 1 and 2 of Rule 131 of the Haryana School Education Rules, 2003, the minimum age prescribed for admission to Class-I is 5 years.
However, as per the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, in order to ensure uniformity across the country, the minimum age for admission to Class-I has been prescribed as 6 years or above and the said amendments are being made. Notably, the Government of India has issued the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, under which, directions were issued to all States to ensure uniformity in the age of admission across the country, stipulating that the age of children seeking admission to Class-I should be 6 years or above.
In compliance with the National Education Policy 2020, the Education Department issued instructions regarding admissions on 29-03-2024 to the District Education Officers / District Elementary Education Officers / Block Education Officers / Principals and School Heads.