The Odisha government has announced that it will implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from the academic session 2025-26.
As part of this policy, the minimum age for admission to Class I has been fixed at six years or above, according to official sources.
“After consultation with various scholars and experts, for the better academic development of the students, the age limit for enrolment in class 1 has been fixed at 6 (six) years or above in the National Education Policy-2020.
Moreover, for the convenience of the students, the deadline for completing the age of 6 (six) years has been fixed at 1st September instead of 31st March”, the statement revealed.
ଆମ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ଜାତୀୟ ଶିକ୍ଷା ନୀତି-୨୦୨୦ କୁ ୨୦୨୫ -୨୬ ଶିକ୍ଷାବର୍ଷ ଠାରୁ ପ୍ରଚଳନ ପାଇଁ ନିଷ୍ପତ୍ତି ନିଆଯାଇଛି ଏବଂ ପ୍ରଥମ ଶ୍ରେଣୀରେ ନାମ ଲେଖାଇବା ବୟସସୀମାକୁ ୬ (ଛଅ) ବର୍ଷ କିମ୍ବା ତଦୁର୍ଦ୍ଧ ଧାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରାଯାଇଅଛି।@OSEPA_Official
— EducationOdisha (@SMEOdisha) March 18, 2025
ଏତଦବ୍ୟତୀତ,ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କ ସୁବିଧା ନିମନ୍ତେ ଏହି ୬ (ଛଅ) ବର୍ଷ ବୟସ ପୂର୍ତ୍ତି ସମୟସୀମାକୁ ମାର୍ଚ୍ଚ ମାସ ୩୧ ତାରିଖ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତେ ସେପ୍ଟେମ୍ବର ମାସ ୧ତାରିଖ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଧାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରାଯାଇଅଛି।
— EducationOdisha (@SMEOdisha) March 18, 2025
The decision was made following consultations with educationists and experts, with a focus on ensuring the holistic academic development of students. To offer greater flexibility, the deadline for students to have completed six years of age has been extended from March 31 to September 1, the School and Mass Education Department confirmed.
This move aligns with the NEP’s vision of creating a more inclusive and flexible education system for young learners.
