Kamal Ghorui
The first list of shortlisted students for Delhi’s Nursery, KG, and Class 1 admissions for the 2026‑27 academic session has been officially released, marking the first major milestone in the city’s highly competitive early childhood education process. Covering over 1,700 private unaided schools and nearly 1.25 lakh applicants, the list reflects the Directorate of Education’s (DoE) points-based admission system designed to ensure transparency and fairness. Parents can now check their child’s status online, review points awarded for various criteria, and raise objections if needed. With the second list scheduled for early February and the full admission process concluding by March, families across Delhi are closely monitoring outcomes to secure seats in their preferred schools.
Points-based system ensures fair selection
Delhi’s nursery admissions operate on a points-based system, with points allocated for factors such as:
- Proximity to school
- Sibling enrollment
- Alumni status of parents
- Staff child or community preference
This system replaces older, opaque processes and aims to make the selection fairer while reducing arbitrary rejections.
How to check the first list
Parents can check whether their child has been shortlisted by visiting the official Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) portal, edudel.nic.in. On the homepage, navigate to the section labeled “Nursery/KG/Admission 2026-27” or “Admission Portal”, where links to the first list of shortlisted candidates are provided.Once on the portal:
- Select your school or district from the dropdown menu to view relevant admission lists.
- Search for your child’s name to check the admission status, points awarded for various criteria, and any additional remarks.
- Download or print the list for your records, as it may be required during later stages of the admission process.
Direct link here.Additionally, many schools also publish the first list on their individual websites, so parents can cross-check both sources to ensure accuracy.
Objections and next steps
If discrepancies are noticed in the points or selection, parents can raise objections from January 24 to February 3, 2026.The second admission list will be published on February 9, 2026, and the complete admission process is set to conclude by March 19, 2026.To maintain fairness, the DoE has set up a district-level monitoring cell to oversee the process. Any tie in points will be resolved via a draw of lots, conducted in the presence of parents and recorded on video.
