KVS Admission Guidelines 2026-27: Eligibility, Process and Reservation

केन्द्रीय विद्यालय ऑनलाइन प्रवेश दिशानिर्देश 2026-27

The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has published comprehensive admission guidelines for the academic year 2026-27. These guidelines detail the entire process for online admissions, eligibility requirements, necessary documentation, and selection procedures for various classes.

I. Central Government Employee: A regular employee who has been appointed to a government-sanctioned position, working in a substantive role, and receiving a salary from the Consolidated Fund of India. This category also encompasses members of All India Services such as IAS, IPS, and IFoS.

II. State Government Employee: A regular employee who occupies a sanctioned position under the State Government in a substantive capacity and receives a salary from the State’s Consolidated Fund.

III. Transfer: An employee is deemed to be transferred only when they are relocated by a competent authority from one location or urban area to another that is at least 20 km apart, with a minimum duration of 6 months (180 days), including the date of release.

IV. Autonomous Bodies / Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs): Entities that are either entirely funded by the government or possess at least 50% government ownership or control are categorized as Autonomous Bodies or PSUs of the Central or State Government.

V. Project / IHL Kendriya Vidyalaya: A Kendriya Vidyalaya established with the assistance of a Public Sector Undertaking, government project, or Institute of Higher Learning, which offers administrative and financial support.

KVS Admission 2026-27 | Overview Table

Organization	Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)
Academic Session	2026-27
Admission Mode	Online (Balvatika and Class 1), Offline/School Level (Class 2 onwards based on vacancies)
Eligible Applicants	All Indian citizens
Minimum Age (Class 1)	6 years as on 31 March
Maximum Age Relaxation	+2 years for CwSN
No Age Limit	Class XI & XII (with conditions)
Download PDF	Click Here
Home Page	Click Here

KVS Online Admission Process 2026-27

Admissions for Balvatika and Class 1 are entirely managed online via the official KVS admission portal.
Parents are required to first register on the portal, complete the application form, and upload the necessary documents.
Once submitted, applications are reviewed, and selection lists are published online.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for Class 1, the child must be at least 6 years old according to the specified cut-off date.
Admissions are available to Indian citizens, with preference given to children of government employees and defense personnel.
Selection Process
Admission to Class 1 is conducted through a lottery system (random selection).
For Classes 2-8, admissions depend on available seats and a priority category system.
Class 9 admissions may require an entrance examination, while Class 11 admissions are determined based on merit.
Documents Required

Applicants need to upload and verify the following documents:

Birth certificate (evidence of age)
Passport-sized photo
Proof of residence
Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/BPL), if relevant
Service certificate (for government personnel)
Key Features
A transparent and entirely digital admission process for entry-level classes
Seat reservations in accordance with RTE and KVS regulations
Multiple selection lists published based on the availability of seats
Final admission contingent upon document verification at the school level

Admission Priorities for Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs)

Admissions in Kendriya Vidyalayas are granted based on the following priority order:

(A) KVS under Civil / Defence Sector

Offspring of Central Government employees (both transferable and non-transferable) and former servicemen.
Offspring of individuals employed in Autonomous Bodies, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), or Institutes of Higher Learning under the Government of India.
Offspring of State Government employees (both transferable and non-transferable).
Offspring of individuals employed in State Government Autonomous Bodies, PSUs, or Institutes of Higher Learning.
All other offspring who do not belong to the aforementioned categories.

Note: Preference is given based on the number of transfers the parent has had in the last 7 years.

(B) KVs under Project Sector / Institutes of Higher Learning

Offspring of personnel associated with the sponsoring Project Sector or Institute of Higher Learning, which encompasses:

Academic staff
Postgraduate research scholars engaged in long-term projects
Regular Council of Wardens (COW) personnel
Employees on temporary assignment
Retired staff members
Contractual workers directly employed by the Project/IHL

(Note: Outsourced or third-party contractual staff are not eligible for priority.)

Preference Order within this category: Employees on duty → Deputation personnel → Former employees → Directly contracted personnel.

Offspring of Central Government employees (both transferable and non-transferable) and retired military personnel.
Offspring of employees from Government of India Autonomous Bodies, Public Sector Undertakings, or Higher Education Institutions.
Offspring of State Government employees.
Offspring of State Government Autonomous Bodies, Public Sector Undertakings, or Higher Education Institutions.
All other classifications not mentioned above.

Note: Priority is also determined by the number of transfers of the parent in the last 7 years.

KVS Eligible Age Criteria for Admission 2026-27

A child must be 6 years old by 31st March of the academic year in which admission is requested (a child born on 1st April should also be taken into account). The age limits for admission to Kendriya Vidyalayas across different classes are outlined below:

Class I	6 years	Less than 8 years
Class II	7 years	Less than 9 years
Class III	8 years	Less than 10 years
Class IV	9 years	Less than 11 years
Class V	10 years	Less than 12 years
Class VI	10 years	Less than 12 years
Class VII	11 years	Less than 13 years
Class VIII	12 years	Less than 14 years
Class IX	13 years	Less than 15 years
Class X	14 years	Less than 16 years

Important Notes on Age Criteria for Admission

Progressive Age Changes: In light of the adjustments made to the minimum and maximum age limits for Class I starting from the 2022-23 academic year, it is anticipated that similar progressive modifications to the age criteria will be implemented for higher classes in the forthcoming years.
Relaxation for CwSN: The upper age limit may be extended by a maximum of 2 years for Children with Special Needs (CwSN).
No Age Limit for Class XI: There are no age restrictions for admission to Class XI, provided that the student submits their application in the same year they complete the Class X examination.
No Age Limit for Class XII: Likewise, there are no upper or lower age limits for admission to Class XII, as long as the student has maintained continuous enrollment after passing Class XI.

KV Reservations Regarding Admission 2026

A. Categories of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer)

Fifteen percent of seats will be designated for Scheduled Castes, 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes, and 27% for Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) in all new admissions at every Kendriya Vidyalaya.

B. Category for Children with Special Needs (CwSN)

3% of the total seats allocated for new admissions will be set aside horizontally for Children with Special Needs (CwSN).

Application for Available Seats

Should there be any unoccupied seats available after June 30th, the Deputy Commissioner of the Region is empowered to authorize admissions up to the specified capacity of 40, adhering to the predetermined admission priorities, until July 31st of the applicable Academic Year.

Here are short lines for each category:

KVS Employees’ Children: They are eligible for admission at any time, even if it exceeds the class capacity (Class IX requires a test).
Deceased Central Govt Employees’ Children: Admission is granted upon presentation of valid proof.
Gallantry Award Winners’ Children: They qualify for an additional admission quota.
Police Gallantry Award Winners’ Children: They are considered under a special category.
Meritorious Sports Children: Those who excel at the national or state level are granted admission.
Scouts & Guides Awardees: Recipients of the Rashtrapati Puraskar are eligible for admission.
Bravery & Bal Awards Winners: Awardees of the National Bravery, Bal Shree, and PM Bal Puraskar are included.
Fine Arts Talented Children: Recognized artists at the national or state level are eligible for admission.
COVID-19 Orphaned Children: They are admitted under the PM CARES initiative with a fee exemption.
Kashmir Migrants’ Children: They receive relaxation, extended deadlines, and additional seats.

Procedure for KV Admissions 2026-27

Publicity: An announcement regarding online registration for Class-I will be published by the Regional Office in local newspapers according to the Admission Schedule provided by KVS (HQs). This announcement will invite parents to enroll their children for admission into Kendriya Vidyalayas. It is essential that this advertisement clearly states that admissions to Kendriya Vidyalayas are not limited to Central Government employees; they are accessible to all, although specific priorities have been established for various categories to manage the admissions process. Additionally, the reservations for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and CwSN, as stipulated under the RTE Act 2009, must also be mentioned.
Registration: (i) Registration will not take place if there are no available spots in a particular class. If a spot becomes available in the future, registration may proceed after thorough publicity at the local level, on the Vidyalaya website, and on the School Notice Board, with admissions granted in accordance with KVS Admission Guidelines.
(ii) In the event that the number of children applying for registration is inadequate, leading to unoccupied seats, the Principal will publish a second advertisement in accordance with the Admission Schedule to inform about the availability of vacancies.
(iii) Admissions must be carried out with the approval of the Executive Committee of the Vidyalaya. Should the Executive Committee not authorize admissions up to the full sanctioned capacity of the class, the Principal is obligated to notify the Deputy Commissioner, who may then grant approval for the admissions.
(iv) Registration for Class XI will begin immediately after the announcement of Class X results, and admissions up to the full capacity of the class should be completed within 30 days following the declaration of CBSE results. If there are difficulties in admitting students to the full capacity due to the Executive Committee’s lack of approval, the procedures outlined for other classes above will be followed, ensuring that admissions up to the sanctioned capacity of the class are finalized within 30 days of the CBSE results announcement with the necessary approvals.

Method of Admission in Class-1 2026-27

Out of the total seats available for new admissions, 25% will be reserved for the Right to Education (hereafter referred to as ‘RTE’). Furthermore, 15% will be allocated for Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 27% for Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (hereafter referred to as ‘OBC-NCL’). Following the admission of students under the RTE Act of 2009, children with Special Needs (CwSN) will be admitted next, after which children belonging to Category 1 (Cat-1) will be considered.

The students admitted under Cat-1 will also include SC, ST, and OBC-NCL categories. Subsequently, after the admission of Cat-1, the process for Cat-2 will begin, which will also encompass SC, ST, and OBC-NCL candidates (up to Cat-3 in the case of Project/IHL Schools).
The shortfall in the number of candidates for the reserved seats for SC, ST, and OBC-NCL will be determined after considering the number of SC, ST, and OBC-NCL children admitted under the RTE quota and the Priority Categories 1 and 2. The reservation criteria will be applied within the approved class strength of 40 students per section:

RTE 25%: 10 seats (which may encompass the seats allocated for SC, ST, and OBC-NCL as detailed below)

SC 15%: 06 seats
ST 7.5%: 03 seats
OBC-NCL 27%: 11 seats

(3% of seats will be reserved horizontally for applicants with Special Needs (CwSN)) Upon the completion of the registration process, the order for conducting the lottery by each Kendriya Vidyalaya will be as follows:

a) RTE Lottery
b) All CwSN Lotteries
c) CAT-I
d) CAT-II
e) SC
f) ST
g) OBC
h) CAT-III
i) CAT-IV
j) CAT-V
k) CAT-VI (if applicable)

The following procedure is to be implemented for new admissions to Class I in Kendriya Vidyalayas:

(I) First Lot: A total of 10 seats (out of 40 seats) in Class I for each section will be allocated in accordance with RTE provisions, which account for 25% of the total seats. These 10 seats will be filled through a lottery conducted from all applications received from SC/ST/EWS/BPL/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/CwSN residents of the local area.

(II) Second Lot: A lottery will be held for Children with Special Needs from the SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Unreserved categories, adhering to the established Priority Category.

(III) Third Lot: The remaining seats, after considering RTE and CwSN applicants (if applicable), will be filled based on the current Priority Categories of Cat-I and Cat-II (Cat-I to Cat-III in the case of Project/IHL KV), up to the sanctioned capacity or until all registered candidates from Cat-1 and Cat-2 (Cat-1 to Cat-3 in the case of Project/IHL KV) have been accommodated.

(IV) Fourth Lot: The total number of SC/ST/OBC-NCL will be determined based on the admitted summary of RTE, CwSN, Cat-1, and Cat-2 (Cat-1 to Cat-3 in the case of Project/IHL KV) admissions completed by the third phase. Any shortfall in the seats reserved for SC/ST/OBC-NCL will then be addressed by admitting SC/ST/OBC-NCL applicants according to the order of admission priorities, irrespective of the sanctioned strength.

(V) Fifth Lot: Once all these processes have been completed, if the sanctioned strength is still not filled and seats remain available, applicants from Priority Cat-3 (Cat-4 in Project/IHL KV) and beyond will be considered for admission based on the existing priority list for unreserved seats only. The unfilled reserved seats for RTE/SC/ST/OBC (NCL) must remain vacant.

(VI) In the case that there are insufficient candidates registered online to occupy the remaining vacant reserved seats: To resolve the unfilled quota of reserved seats for RTE/SC/ST/OBC-NCL, a separate advertisement will be published in accordance with the Admission schedule by the respective Kendriya Vidyalaya, inviting offline registration from candidates belonging to that specific category.

Definition of Neighbourhood and Proof of Residence (Applicable for Admission Under RTE only)

Considering that Kendriya Vidyalayas are located in regions with differing population densities, they have been categorized as follows to define the neighbourhood boundaries:

Major cities and Urban areas (All District Headquarters and Metropolises) 5 km Radius
Locations and regions not included in point 1 above. 8 km Radius.
All applicants are required to submit proof of residence.
A written self-declaration from the parent concerning the distance may also be accepted, subject to verification.

Fee and other concessions:

(i) There will be no fees charged for children who are admitted under the 25% quota set forth by the RTE Act of 2009.
(ii) Once admitted to Class I under the RTE Act, these children will continue to enjoy their exemptions and concessions until they complete Class VIII.
(iii) During the registration process, parents must submit proof of address.
(iv) Employees eligible for fee reimbursement within their respective departments are not permitted to claim RTE concessions.

Method of KV Admission in Class IX

In order to secure a place in Class IX, an admission examination will be conducted, and a merit list will be compiled for each priority category individually. Admission may be offered to occupy any available seats within the specified class capacity as detailed in the Table located in PART-A, Paragraph 05, adhering to the priority sequence determined by the parents’ category.

The entrance examination will encompass the subjects of Hindi, English, Mathematics, Social Science, and Science.
A single admission test paper will be administered, lasting for 3 hours, with a total of 100 marks distributed as follows: Hindi, English, Mathematics, Social Science, and Science, each assigned 20 marks.
Candidates must secure at least 33% of the total marks to qualify. Students belonging to SC/ST/CwSN categories will be eligible for admission with a minimum of 25% of the total marks.

KVS Admission 2026: Marks Concession for Sports, NCC, Scouts and Reservation Categories

(A) The following concession will be extended to students applying for admission who have engaged in Games & Sports meet/Scouting & Guiding/NCC/Adventure activities at various levels. The certificate required for this purpose may originate from any of the preceding years.

S.No. Sports & Games

NCC Scouting/ Guiding
Adventure Activities
Concession of marks for admission
a. Participation at SGFI or equivalent level
‘A’ certificate & participation in Republic Day Parade /PM Rally
Rashtrapati Puraskar award certificate
NIL 6% Marks in aggregate –
b. Participation at KVS National/ State level
‘A’ certificate and best Cadet in Distt/State level
Rajya Puraskar award certificate with 07 proficiency badges
NIL 4% Marks in aggregate
c. Participation at KVS Regional/ District Level
‘A’ certificate
Tritiya Sopan certificate with 05 proficiency badges
Participation in at least One 10 days adventure activity
2% Marks in aggregate
(B) Students from SC/ST/OBC-NCL/CwSN categories will receive an enhancement in aggregate by 4% Marks for admission to class XI.
(C) The total concession under Sports/Games/NCC/Scout and Guides/Adventure will not exceed 6% Marks in aggregate. If a candidate qualifies for multiple concessions under the various categories outlined in (A) and (B) above, only the single concession that provides the maximum benefit to the candidate will be allowed. This same benefit may also be extended to non-KV Students seeking fresh admission in KVs.

Note:

These Admission Guidelines will be applicable to Balvatika Classes wherever relevant, adhering to the same criteria as Class I, subject to the age requirements for Balvatika 1, 2 & 3, as applicable.
In the case of any disputes regarding the interpretation of the Admission Guidelines, the decision of the Commissioner KVS will be final.
Any necessary adjustments to the Admission Guidelines due to unforeseen circumstances at any point during the year can be enacted with the prior consent of the Chairman, KVS.