Delhi Nursery Admissions Reach Critical Phase with Second Merit List Release
The nursery admission process in Delhi has entered a highly tense and decisive stage. On Monday, private schools throughout the capital unveiled their second merit list for the 2026–27 academic session, resulting in a significant number of applicants being placed on extensive waiting lists. With a severe scarcity of available seats, the majority of final admission decisions are now anticipated to be determined in the crucial third list, which is scheduled for release on March 5.
Widespread Release Highlights Intense Competition
A total of 1,741 private schools across Delhi uploaded their second merit lists concurrently with detailed waiting lists. The sheer volume of applications and limited placements underscores one undeniable reality: competition for nursery seats remains exceptionally fierce. For countless anxious parents, the ultimate fate of their child's admission will only be revealed in this final, decisive round.
Major Schools and Their Expanding Waiting Lists
The second list revealed substantial disparities between the number of students selected and those placed on standby. For instance, Sovereign School located in Rohini shortlisted 409 students, while Gita Ratan School, also in Rohini, selected 136 candidates. St George’s School in Alaknanda confirmed admissions for 155 children, whereas Loreto Convent School in Delhi Cantonment shortlisted a mere 11 students.
Waiting lists continue to expand at an alarming rate. Delhi Public School, East of Kailash, selected only 14 candidates but placed a staggering 132 applicants on its standby list. Similarly, Apeejay School in Saket confirmed 150 students and maintained 176 children on its waiting list, according to officials who provided this information to PTI.
Immediate Steps for Parents with Second List Selections
Parents whose children have successfully secured a place in the second merit list must act promptly. They are required to visit the respective schools in person between February 10 and February 16 to complete all necessary admission formalities. School authorities have issued clear warnings that any delays in this process could result in forfeited seats, which would then be offered to the next eligible candidates on the waiting list.
Strict Adherence to Age Eligibility Criteria
The Directorate of Education has reaffirmed its stringent age criteria for the upcoming 2026–27 academic session. To be eligible for nursery admission, children must be three years old as of March 31, 2026. For kindergarten, the required age is four years, and for Class 1, it is five years by the same cutoff date. Schools may grant a minimal age relaxation of up to one month, but this concession is solely at the discretion of the individual school head and is not guaranteed.
Transparent and Monitored Selection Process
All admissions were conducted using a meticulously designed points-based system. This system allocated specific weightage to key factors including the distance from the applicant's residence to the school, sibling preference, and alumni status of the parents. Applicant details were officially uploaded on January 9, and the marks awarded to each candidate were made publicly available by January 16.
To ensure absolute fairness and transparency throughout the process, a dedicated district-level monitoring cell has been established. Furthermore, the education department has issued a strict directive that any necessary draw of lots must be conducted openly in the presence of parents and must be comprehensively video recorded for verification purposes.
Stringent Regulations on Fee Collection
In a move to protect parents from financial exploitation, schools are only permitted to charge a nominal, non-refundable registration fee of ₹25. They are strictly prohibited from demanding any form of capitation fee or compelling parents to purchase a school prospectus as a condition for admission consideration.
