Overview

• The School Education Department (SED) has issued updated age determination guidelines for Class 1 admissions in line with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.
• A one-time relaxation sets September 30, 2025, as the cutoff for minimum age for Class 1 admissions in the 2025-26 academic session, applicable in Jammu division but excluding winter zones.
• From the 2026-27 academic session onward, minimum admission ages will be strictly reckoned as of March 31, with no further relaxations allowed.
• The NEP-2020 prescribes a minimum age of three years for pre-primary admissions, standardizing age norms across educational institutions.
• The updated guidelines aim to resolve confusion among parents and schools during the transitional phase of NEP-2020 implementation.