Tamil Nadu RTE Admission 2026: Apply Online for LKG & Class 1

Age details

• LKG: approximately 3-4 years as on 31 July of the academic year.
• Class 1: approximately 5-6 years as on 31 July of the academic year.

Exact age criteria are portal-dependent and can vary each year. Please refer to the official RTE Tamil Nadu portal for 2026-27 for precise ranges.

Eligibility details

1) Age criteria (for LKG and Class 1)

• LKG: typically around 3 to 4 years as on 31 July of the academic year (exact date range notified on the portal).
• Class 1: typically around 5 to 6 years as on 31 July of the academic year (exact date range notified on the portal).

Always check the exact date-of-birth range mentioned on the official RTE Tamil Nadu portal for 2026-27 before applying.

2) Income limit (Weaker Section - WS)

• Family annual income must be within the limit fixed by the Government of Tamil Nadu (up to ₹2,00,000 per year for EWS).
• A valid Income Certificate issued by the Tahsildar or other notified revenue authority is mandatory.

3) Category criteria (Disadvantaged Group - DG)

• SC, ST, BC, MBC, orphaned children, HIV-affected or infected children, transgender children, children of scavenging workers, and other disadvantaged categories notified by the government.
• A relevant community or special category certificate must be uploaded during application.

4) Residential requirement

• The child must be a resident of Tamil Nadu.
• Valid address proof showing Tamil Nadu address is required.
• In many cases, select schools within a specified radius from residence as indicated by the portal.

Important dates

• Online application start: 20 April 2026, 11:00 AM
• Last date to submit online application: 18 May 2026 (up to evening / portal cut-off)
• Document verification: parallel to the application window and shortly after closing date
• Publication of eligible/rejected lists: around 20 May 2026
• Lottery/draw of lots (if required): around 22 May 2026
• Final admission & reporting by schools: last week of May 2026 (tentative, school-wise)

Notes: dates are subject to official schedules published by the Tamil Nadu School Education Department.

Application fees

• There is no application fee for Tamil Nadu RTE Admission 2026. Schools cannot charge capitation fees for RTE seats.

How to apply online (summary)

• Visit the official portal(s) and start a new application or resume an existing one.
• Select LKG or Class 1 and enter child’s details, residential address, and category (WS or DG).
• Upload required documents (photo, birth certificate, Aadhaar/Ration Card, address proof, category certificate).
• Choose nearby private schools with available RTE seats.
• Review all entries and submit; save the acknowledgment with the application number for tracking.

Documents checklist (upload)

• Child’s passport-size photo
• Birth certificate
• Parent/Guardian ID (Aadhaar/Ration Card)
• Address proof (Tamil Nadu residence)
• Income certificate (WS)
• Community/category certificate (DG/SC/ST/BC/MBC), or any special category certificate (orphan, HIV-affected, transgender, scavenging workers)

For any updates, always rely on the official portals mentioned above and avoid third-party sources.