UP govt issues order for strict monitoring of admission of underprivileged children in private schools

The Uttar Pradesh government has revised the norms for admitting underprivileged children to private schools, introducing stricter rules and stronger monitoring. The application process will now be fully online, requiring Aadhaar cards of the child and both parents.

The age limit for pre-primary admission has been set at 3 to 6 years, and for Class 1, at 6 to 7 years.

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For the first time, a District-Level Implementation and Monitoring Committee has been formed, chaired by the District Magistrate. Over a dozen district-level officers will serve as members to oversee the process. Disputes arising during admission will be resolved by a four-member committee under the Chief Development Officer (CDO).

UP Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh on Tuesday said, “This initiative will prove to be a milestone in making education accessible to all. No underprivileged child will be deprived of quality education. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure equal opportunities for each section of society.”

The scheme covers children from the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, socially and educationally backward classes, orphans, destitute children, children of parents suffering from HIV/AIDS or cancer, and children from families with disabilities. Families with an annual income of up to Rs 1 lakh are also eligible.

All applications will be submitted via the portal www.rte25.upsdc.gov.in. Schools must upload details of their available seats on the portal. The list of allotted students will be made public to prevent discrepancies. The government will bear the tuition fees of admitted children. In addition, parents will receive an annual grant of ₹5,000 directly in their bank accounts to purchase uniforms and books.

According to the government order, parents attempting admission with fake or forged documents will face legal action. The move also aims to curb schools’ arbitrary practices and potential irregularities in fee reimbursement. Schools will no longer have unchecked freedom. If a school denies admission to an allotted child without a valid reason, its recognition may be withdrawn.

Director General of School Education, Kanchan Verma, stated that after a child is allotted admission, the school must upload the details on the RTE online portal and UDISE portal, ensuring the creation of a UDISE ID. If this process is not completed, the school will not be eligible for fee reimbursement.

To ensure transparency in financial arrangements, reimbursement and aid will be provided only after bills submitted by schools are 100% verified by district officials. This verification will include matching the registration numbers of students enrolled in previous and current academic sessions with school allotments. Furthermore, Block Education Officers will conduct quarterly on-site inspections to verify the presence of admitted students.