Explained | Why Karnataka’s Class 1 admission rules have triggered protests again

As the six-year cut-off returns from 2026–27, parents demand flexibility for children born during the pandemic.

On Monday (March 2), thousands of parents gathered in Bengaluru, demanding a 90-day relaxation in the age eligibility criteria for Class 1 admissions for the 2026-27 academic year.

At the centre of the issue is the state’s rule that a child must be six years old by June 1 of the academic year to qualify for admission to Class 1. The requirement is in line with the Right to Education (RTE) Act and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, both of which recommend six as the ideal entry age for formal schooling.

Although the age rule has existed for some time, its strict enforcement from 2026–27 has sparked widespread anxiety among parents, many of whom fear their children could lose an academic year. Estimates suggest that over 2.3 lakh students across Karnataka may have to repeat a year if the rule is implemented without relaxation.

What does the rule say?

Karnataka’s minimum age criterion was first raised from five years and five months to six years in July 2022. At the time, it was aimed at standardising school entry across all boards and bringing uniformity with RTE/NEP recommendations.

However, pushback from parents over implementation of the new rules led authorities to delay effective reinforcement until the current academic year.

As per this rule, children who do not turn six by June 1, 2026, will not be eligible for admission to Class 1 this academic year, even if they have completed Upper Kindergarten (UKG).

Officials have maintained that the six-year benchmark aligns with national policy and developmental research, which suggests that formal schooling at six supports cognitive and social readiness.

Why are parents protesting now?

Parents argue that the children affected are those born during the Covid-19 pandemic, often referred to as “Covid kids,” who have already faced uncertainty and disruption in education due to the pandemic. Many of them began pre-primary schooling in 2022, have completed nursery and UKG and are academically ready for Class 1, parents say.

However, because some of them fall short of the June 1 cut-off by a few days or weeks, they may now be required to repeat UKG.

One parent, speaking to ANI, said, “Our children are not meeting the six-year age cut-off under the NEP. For children, repeating a class will cause psychological stress. The institutions are open to it and don't want children to repeat, but we're waiting for the government to give relaxation in the rule or expedite SEP implementation."

Parents’ groups have taken to social media and staged protests, urging the state to allow a 90-day relaxation, effectively permitting children who turn six by August 31 to be admitted to Class 1 this year. They argue that holding children back despite completing UKG could affect their emotional well-being and continuity of learning.

What happened last year?

In April 2025, after similar pressure, the Karnataka government permitted a one-time relaxation. Children aged five years and five months who had completed UKG were allowed to enter Class 1 for the 2025-26 academic year.

That decision was based on recommendations from the State Education Policy (SEP) committee and was described as a “temporary measure.” The government clarified that starting from 2026, the age requirement will revert to six years, as originally intended by the government.

This year, despite the pushback from parents, the government has not extended the relaxation so far, leading to renewed protests.

What happens next?

Admissions for the new academic year are already underway, and parents are seeking urgent clarity. Many fear that without a decision soon, children who have already completed UKG may lose a year due to the age cut-off.

For now, the June 1 deadline remains as it is. It remains to be seen whether the state government will revisit the 90-day relaxation demand, as it has done in the past.