New Delhi: The Directorate of Education (DoE) on Monday conducted a computerised draw of lots for admissions to entry-level classes — nursery, KG and Class 1 — in private unaided recognised schools for the 2026–27 academic session under the EWS/DG and Children With Special Needs (CWSN) categories.Officials said the draw was conducted in the presence of parents and other stakeholders to ensure transparency.Following the draw, education minister Ashish Sood said technological upgrades, including NIC-developed and approved software and encrypted Aadhaar-based verification, had helped eliminate duplicate and erroneous applications. “Effective checks have been implemented to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries are considered. This has resulted in better opportunities for eligible applicants,” Sood said.Under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act, all private unaided recognised schools — except minority institutions — are mandated to reserve at least 25% of seats at the entry level for children from economically weaker sections (EWS), disadvantaged groups (DG) and children with special needs.The minister said there had been a significant increase in both the number of schools and seats this year, along with greater transparency and simplification of the admission process. The number of participating schools rose from 2,219 in 2025–26 to 2,308 in 2026–27.Under the EWS/DG category, seats increased from 44,045 to 48,092, while seats under the CWSN category rose from 6,471 to 7,609. The total number of seats thus increased from 50,516 to 55,701, marking a rise of 5,185 seats.According to Sood, the DoE received 1,39,524 applications this year. Of these, 1,38,536 EWS/DG applications were found to be complete. In the CWSN category, the number of complete applications increased from 904 last year to 988.The minister clarified that once the results of the draw are frozen, no changes can be made. He added that the entire process was conducted transparently, including through a PPT-based presentation.School allotments were made immediately after the draw, officials said. In comparison to last year, improvements have been introduced, with digital verification of parents’ documents via mobile phones, eliminating the need for repeated visits to schools.The next stage of the admission process is expected to begin within three days, the minister said, to ensure a smooth and hassle-free admission process for selected students.
