Students seeking admission under the EWS, DG, and CWSN categories will now be able to choose an institution within a 3km radius of their residence.

According to the Directorate of Education, students seeking admission to entry-level classes in private schools under the EWS, DG, and CWSN categories will now be permitted to select an institution within a 3-km radius of their domicile instead of the previous 1 km as their first option. According to officials, the government learned that candidates who live in a neighbourhood within one kilometre of a particular school are typically chosen in the computerized draw of lots, and chances for those who live between one and three kilometres from the school are reduced as most of the seats are filled.

“A measure is being adopted by the DoE for making 0 to 3 km as a first preference instead of 0 to 1 km in the interest of deserving eligible candidates,” Education Director Himanshu Gupta said. “This will ensure the uniform opportunity to more and more desirous parents to seek admission of their wards under EWS, DG and Children With Special Needs (CWSN) category at entry-level classes in a private unaided recognised school of their choice of the nearby locality.

According to the RTE Act of 2009, all private unaided recognised schools (aside from minority schools) are required to admit students from underrepresented groups, disadvantaged individuals, and students with special needs in entry-level classes to a minimum of 25% of the student body and to offer fee-based, compulsory elementary education.