Children will need to be three for Nursery from 2027-28, with the six-year minimum for Class 1 taking effect in 2030-31 under a unified state framework.
Maharashtra has announced a phased change to school entry ages that will affect pre-primary classes first and Class 1 later, setting out a single framework for admissions across the state’s board systems. According to the government resolution reported by PTI, the minimum age will be measured as of June 30 in the relevant academic year, with the first change due to begin in 2027-28 and the Class 1 rule taking effect in 2030-31.
Under the new timetable, children will need to be at least three years old for Nursery or Balvatika-1 from the 2027-28 session. The threshold will then rise to four years for Junior KG, or Balvatika-2, in 2028-29, followed by five years for Senior KG, or Balvatika-3, in 2029-30. By 2030-31, children entering Class 1 will need to have turned six by June 30 of that academic year.
Officials said the move is designed to reduce the variation that has existed across schools affiliated with the Maharashtra State Board, CBSE, ICSE and IB. The government has presented the change as an effort to align admissions with the National Education Policy 2020, which calls for greater consistency in early-years schooling. The resolution also refers to communication from the Centre on the minimum age for Class 1 entry, according to PTI.
Parents of children already enrolled will not be affected immediately. The revised requirements will not apply to pupils who are already in Nursery through Class 1 during the 2026-27 academic session, and students who have successfully completed the previous standard at a recognised school will be allowed to move up under the existing progression system. That safeguard is intended to prevent disruption for children already on the school roll.
The resolution also gives school heads limited discretion to relax the minimum and maximum age by up to 15 days for admissions from Nursery to Class 1. Even so, families are being advised to check the formal admission notice issued by their school and any follow-up instructions from the education authorities before applying. The Directorate of Primary Education in Pune is expected to issue further guidance on implementation.
For parents, the key point is the phased roll-out. Nursery admissions will be the first to change, followed by Junior KG and Senior KG, with the six-year minimum for Class 1 arriving last. The gradual timetable is meant to bring children through pre-primary and primary school with a more uniform age progression, while giving existing students time to move through the system without being caught out by the new rules.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
