Overview
- Madhu Bangarappa told the Assembly Thursday that children who are at least 5 years 10 months on June 1 will be eligible for Class 1 in 2026–27.
- The relaxation also covers LKG and UKG, with a formal circular and updates to the state’s admission software promised to put it into effect.
- The minister said the government will table legislation in the next session to regulate LKG and UKG admissions, which now lack clear rules.
- Parents had warned their children could lose a year under a strict six-year cutoff, and reports estimate roughly 250,000 students would have been affected.
- Karnataka raised the Class 1 entry age to six in July 2022 to match national norms under the RTE and NEP, and opposition leaders now press for a lasting fix rather than yearly waivers.