Share
Link copied
School Admissions
CoreSignal / Agriculture & Employment / School Admissions
Education & Admissions

School Admissions in West Bengal: Age Rules, Draw of Lots and Key Dates

How government and aided schools admit children from pre-primary to Class XI, the status of the RTE private-school quota, and the central school routes.

Compiled from official releases and published sources, October 2026 9 min read Department: School Education Department, Government of West Bengal

01Elementary Classes in Government and Aided Schools

A State Education Department notice of 26 November 2025 says the 2024 admission memo remains valid for the 2026 session. Admission is by draw of lots when applicants exceed seats, first a general draw and then category-wise draws for reserved seats. No entrance test is used.

Age bands as on 1 January of the session year
ClassAge
Pre-primary5 to under 6 years
Class I6 to under 7 years
Class II7 to under 8 years
Class V10 to under 11 years
Class VI11 to under 12 years

The head of the school may relax the age limit by 4 months. Children left without a seat apply to the District Inspector of Schools. A student of Class IV moves to Class V automatically when the two classes share a building.

No notice for the 2027 session was found yet. The earlier notice came in late November.

02RTE 25% Quota in Private Schools

West Bengal was listed among states that had not implemented the 25% reservation under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act in a chart reported to the Supreme Court in May 2026. No state RTE lottery portal or 2026-27 RTE dates were found. Whether the new government changed this is not known.

03Classes IX and XI

  • Class IX: Board registration for Madhyamik 2028 ran from 13 July to 25 August 2026 on wbbsedata.com, with late registration to 10 September. Enrolment for Madhyamik 2027 candidates runs from 2 to 19 December 2026.
  • Class XI: WBCHSE set registration forms for 2026-27 for 16 to 30 June 2026, submitted by the heads of institutions. No statewide online student portal for Class XI selection was found.
  • Madrasah Board: Class IX and XI registration for 2026 ran from 7 to 31 August, with fine to 8 September.

04Kendriya Vidyalaya and Navodaya School Admissions

  • Kendriya Vidyalaya (2026-27): portal kvsangathan.nic.in, no application fee. Class I registration ran from 20 March to 2 April 2026 for ages 6 to under 8 as on 31 March. The next cycle is likely around March 2027, but no date is confirmed.
  • Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Class VI (2027-28): registration closed on 7 August 2026 at navodaya.gov.in. The test is on 28 November 2026.

05Documents Commonly Asked For

  • Birth certificate (see the West Bengal Birth Certificate page)
  • Aadhaar of the child and parent
  • Caste certificate for reserved seats
  • Passport-size photographs
  • Residence proof

07Frequently Asked Questions

How are children chosen for a Class I seat?

By draw of lots when applications exceed seats. No test or interview is used in government and aided schools.

What is the age for Class I?

6 to under 7 years as on 1 January of the session year, with a relaxation of up to 4 months by the head of school.

Is there an RTE lottery in West Bengal?

None was found. West Bengal was listed among states that had not implemented the private-school quota in 2026.

When do Kendriya Vidyalaya admissions open?

Last year Class I registration ran from 20 March to 2 April. The 2027-28 dates are not announced.

This page is updated periodically. Benefit amounts, limits, dates and portal menus change; for the most current and binding information, always refer to the official portal or the implementing office.