Delhi EWS Admission 2026: Schools Cannot Charge Fees in These 2 Cases – Violation Can Attract 10x Penalty

New Delhi: The EWS/DG/CWSN admission process for private schools in Delhi is underway for the academic session 2026-27, and online registration will remain open until March 16, 2026. Parents can apply through the Delhi Education Department portals: ewsadmissions.delhi.gov.in or edudel.nic.in.

Before applying, it is important for parents to understand the fee rules, as private schools are prohibited from demanding fees under certain conditions, with violations attracting penalties up to 10 times the illegal fee.

Seats Reserved for EWS and Special Categories

• Private schools reserve 25% of seats for EWS/DG/CWSN categories, while the remaining 75% are open seats.
• Of the 25% reserved seats:
• 22% for EWS/DG category
• 3% for children with special needs (CWSN category)
• The admissions apply to Nursery, KG, and Class 1.

Fees Private Schools Cannot Charge

The Delhi Education Department has clarified that schools cannot demand “capitation fees” or donations from parents.

• Capitation Fee: Any payment, contribution, or donation over and above the prescribed tuition fee.
• Legal backing: High Court order (Rakesh vs Mont Fort School, LPA 196/2004) and Section 13(1) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
• Violation: Any school charging capitation or donation fees may face penalties up to 10 times the amount collected.

Income Criteria for EWS Admissions

• Only children from families with annual income below ₹5 lakh (from all sources) are eligible for EWS seats.
• Income certificates must be issued by the Revenue Department, GNCT Delhi, and the issue date must be before the last date of online application.

Age Eligibility

Class	EWS Category	DG Category	CWSN Category
Nursery / Pre-School	3–5 years	3–5 years	3–7 years
KG / Pre-Primary	4–6 years	4–6 years	4–8 years
Class 1	5–7 years	5–7 years	5–9 years

• DG (Disadvantaged Group) includes SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), orphans, transgender, and children affected by HIV.
• CWSN (Children with Special Needs) require a disability certificate from a government hospital.
• For both DG and CWSN categories, income certificate is not mandatory.

Helpline

For any queries related to entry-level admissions (Nursery, KG, Class 1), parents can contact the Education Directorate helpline:

• 8800355192 or 9818154069 (Monday–Friday, 10 AM–5 PM).

Parents are advised to carefully prepare the required documents and follow all rules to avoid complications during the admission process.