Instructions of the Ministry of Education – the minimum age of admission in the first class should be kept at 6 years

The National Education Policy-2020 recommends developing children's learning abilities and understanding at the 'foundational level' as a national priority for the country. The first, the foundational stage, consists of five years of learning opportunities for all children (between the ages of 3 and 8), consisting of three years of pre-school education and two years of early primary grade-I and grade-II.

The most important factor in the foundational stage is the availability of qualified teachers who are specially trained in age and developmentally appropriate curriculum and pedagogy. The National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) has also been launched recently i.e. on 20 October 2022.

States have also been advised to initiate the process of formulating and running Two Year Diploma in Preschool Education (DPSE) courses in their State/UTs. The curriculum is expected to be designed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and run through the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) under the supervision and holding of SCERT.