Category: Uncategorized

  • After Minister’s “Power Centres” Remark, Siddaramaiah’s “Ignore” Advice

    The Karnataka minister had earlier triggered a row by hinting at sweeping changes in the state’s politics after September.

    Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday sought to quell speculation over internal strife within the ruling Congress government, urging everyone to ignore recent remarks by his party colleague, KN Rajanna. The Karnataka minister had earlier triggered a row by hinting at sweeping changes in the state’s politics after September.

    “Where is the internal bickering?” Mr Siddaramaiah said. “Rajanna only said there could be political developments. It doesn’t mean this or that will happen. Did he say one particular thing will happen? What can one do if you assume things and report? It’s better to ignore these statements.”

    Siddaramaiah’s comments came a day after Mr Rajanna suggested that a political “revolution” could unfold later this year, raising eyebrows within both the Congress and opposition ranks. Mr Rajanna, who is viewed as a long-time loyalist of Siddaramaiah, made the remarks after meeting the Chief Minister at Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday.

    “Let September get over….there will be developments in state politics. It will begin (after September),” Mr Rajanna said. 

    Mr Rajanna had earlier alleged, both in the Assembly and in Delhi, that he was the target of an attempted honey-trap operation. Following the controversy, he had also expressed willingness to resign and had indicated his interest in taking over as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, currently held by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

    “During 2013-18 there was only one power centre. Now there are many — one, two, three. You can say how many ever you want. When there are many power centres, there will be more hustle and bustle, and in that background, he (Siddaramaiah) will also have to manage the government and party, according to the situation,” Mr Rajanna had said. 

    The remarks were seen as veiled criticism of Mr Shivakumar, who holds both the executive role and the state party presidency. 

    Mr Shivakumar, when approached by reporters, offered a restrained response. “I don’t know. I’ll talk to him and tell you. You have to ask him about this,” he said.

  • Woman Sues Husband For Defamation Over Adultery Charge. What Court Ruled

    A woman had alleged that her husband had falsely alleged in the divorce petition that she was having an affair with her gym trainer.

    A Delhi Court has recently declined cognisance of a defamation complaint filed by a woman against her husband. The man had filed a divorce petition in Karnataka on the grounds of cruelty and adultery.

    While declining cognisance, the court observed, “A crucial element for completing the offence of defamation is that the imputation (allegation) must have been made with the requisite mensrea (intention) to cause harm to the reputation of the concerned person.”

    A woman had alleged that her husband had falsely alleged in the divorce petition that she was having an affair with her gym trainer, used to meet her secretly, used to invite him to their house in the absence of the accused and used to frequent hotels with him.

    It was further alleged that during cross-examination in the divorce proceeding, the husband could not substantiate his allegations and failed to justify the ground of adultery. As per the admitted case, the divorce was eventually granted in the matter on the ground of cruelty.

    Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Yashdeep Chahal refused to take cognizance of the complaint.

    “I have no hesitation in observing that the version of the complainant fails to disclose the ingredients and nexus necessary for proving the offence of defamation against the accused herein, and thus, no prima facie case is made out for taking cognisance. Accordingly, cognisance is declined under Section 223 of BNSS and the complaint is disposed of,” JMFC Chahal said in the order passed on May 16.

    The court also pointed a finger towards making Delhi a jurisdiction for filing a complaint.

    “It is also apparent from how the cause of action has been created in Delhi. To keep the pot boiling is a method which the Courts must be circumspect about. I need not say more,” JMFC Yashdeep Chahal said.

    The complainant had alleged that when she was in Delhi to meet her friend she was having the affidavit filed by her husband. Her husband caught hold of the affidavit and read it. Her friend asked her the question about the allegations. She alleged that the false Allegations levelled in the affidavit defamed her in the eyes of her husband.

    The court also said that it has been observed by the Constitutional Courts, time and again, that the tendency to misuse the criminal machinery for settling monetary/civil scores must be nipped in the bud.

    ” Without expressing much, I may only note that the prayer on behalf of the complainant to keep this complaint pending, for no reason whatsoever, till settlement talks are going on

    outside the Court, only points in the direction alleged by the accused to keep the pressure points on,” the judge observed.

    The couple got married on 28.04.2008. As the relationship went sour, the accused husband filed a divorce petition in 2020 before the Family Court in Bengaluru.

    In the said petition, the husband filed his affidavit of evidence wherein, the accused pleaded

    for divorce on the twin grounds of cruelty and adultery. To substantiate his ground of adultery, the accused allegedly levelled certain allegations against the complainant.

  • 2 Army Majors, Extramarital Affair And Court’s “Burden Of Fidelity” Remark

    The court noted that the alleged couple had the right to privacy at the hotel, and that it shielded their booking details and data from any third party.

    Upholding the right to privacy in an alleged extramarital affair case involving two Army officers, a Delhi court has rejected a request seeking CCTV footage from a hotel. The petition was filed by a Major in the Indian Army, who alleged that his wife was having an affair with another officer, also a Major.

    The court noted that the alleged couple had the right to privacy at the hotel, and it shielded their data and booking details from any third party, reported Livelaw. Civil Judge Vaibhav Pratap Singh observed that hotels must protect the confidentiality of their guests.

    “The right to privacy and to be left alone in a hotel would extend to the common areas as against a third party who was not present there and has no other legally justifiable entitlement to seek the data of the guest. Same would hold good for the booking details,” said the Judge.

    The petition also raised concern over the wife and her alleged lover’s right to be heard, he said, noting that they were not named in the lawsuit despite being central to the case.

    The Judge said it was questionable if the hotel could be compelled to release the footage without making the alleged couple parties to the lawsuit.

    “The release of such private information without affording them an opportunity to defend their privacy rights would be a violation of their right to natural justice and even the fundamental right to privacy and could lead to reputational harm,” the court observed.

    It also asserted that courts are not investigative bodies for private disputes or a channel for collecting evidence in internal proceedings.

    The Judge said the complainant must avail remedies under the Army Act, 1950 and the extant rules, noting that the court cannot be used to bypass or supplement the internal mechanisms. 

    He also cited Graham Greene’s novel ‘The End of the Affair’ in his order, which said the “burden of fidelity” rests with the one who made the promise. “It is not the lover who has betrayed the marriage, but the one who made the vow and broke it. The outsider was never bound by it,” the order read.

    The Judge also pointed to a landmark verdict on adultery by the Supreme Court. Citing the 2018 Joseph Shinde vs Union of India case, he said the top court had rejected the concept that a man could ‘steal’ the affection of another man’s wife, giving the impression that she could not choose who to love.

    Rejecting what he said was a “dated idea” that a man could steal a woman, where she is not assigned any responsibility, he said that it “dehumanises” women.

    He recalled that even the Parliament had done away with the adultery law while enacting the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This showed that modern-day Bharat has no place for gender condescension and patriarchal notions, said Judge Singh.

  • In Kanpur Murder, A Meerut Reminder: Conspiracies And Extra-Marital Affair

    Kanpur murder: The accused tried to wash off the blood stains in the house and on the murder weapon; however, a forensic analysis spilled the beans.

    The gruesome murder of a man in Kanpur has revealed multiple layers of conspiracy, an extramarital affair, and a modus operandi that matches partly with the Meerut killing that had sent shockwaves through the country two months ago.

    Dharmendra Pasi, a resident of Laxmankheda village, was killed by his wife Reena and nephew Satish, who were in an extramarital relationship, the police said.

    On May 10, Reena had mixed sleeping pills in Dharmendra’s food. After he fainted, she smashed his head with a heavy door frame. During the murder, only the victim’s 75-year-old hearing-impaired mother was present in the house.

    The conspiracy came to the fore as the cops went through the accused’s call details and the forensic investigation. The police initially rounded up three suspects. But their focus shifted towards the family after they found blood stains inside their house, including the courtyard and the bathroom.

    While the body was found outside the house, the blood stains inside sparked suspicion. With the help of a forensic team and sniffer dogs, the police confirmed that the murder was committed inside the house.

    To save themselves, Reena and Satish had named three other men before the cops, trying to frame them in what would appear as a family feud. But the police saw through their lies.

    Reena and Satish’s call details revealed they spoke over the phone for long hours. Obscene photographs were also recovered from their phones. When interrogated, Reena confessed she had an affair with her nephew. Her husband already had a whiff of their relationship, she told the cops.

    Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Mahesh Kumar said that two weeks before the murder, the victim had a fight with some people. Based on this, two people were arrested for his killing.

    “But further probe revealed an affair between the victim’s wife and nephew. The victim had come to know about their relationship and had fought over it with his wife. After that, it emerged that they had conspired to kill him,” said Mr Kumar.

    The accused also tried to wash off the blood stains in the house and on the murder weapon; however, a forensic analysis spilled the beans.

    Both have been arrested and taken away by the police. A case of murder, destruction of evidence, and conspiracy has been registered against two of them.

    The Kanpur murder shares an eerie similarity with the killing of a former Merchant Navy officer by his wife and her lover in Meerut in March. The victim’s body – chopped into 15 pieces – was found in a drum sealed with cement. After the murder, the accused left for vacation in Himachal Pradesh.

    The murder came to light when labourers opened the drum after being unable to lift it.

  • Neeraj Chopra Surprises Fan with Grand VVIP Experience at His Event

    Neeraj Chopra surprised a fan on Friday by offering him a “full VVIP experience” and accommodation for the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic.Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra surprised a fan on Friday by offering him a “full VVIP experience” and accommodation for the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic on July 5 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Ahead of the much-anticipated athletic event of the season on Indian soil, Chopra’s fan named Ranjith, from Coimbatore, asked for money on social media to attend next month’s showpiece event. “If anyone sponsor me 2000 rupees, I can go to watch this from Coimbatore,” he posted on X on June 25.

    Initially scheduled for May 24, the event was deferred due to India-Pakistan conflict, keeping security in mind, and to show solidarity with the nation.

    As a World Athletics-sanctioned Gold event, the Neeraj Chopra Classic promises to elevate India’s status on the global athletics map. It will feature a stellar line-up of elite javelin throwers, including The event will see the participation of several Olympic medallists, including Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Chopra, Thomas Rohler, Anderson Peters and others.

    Chopra played a pivotal role in the staging of the event in India and sending invitations to global stars of the game to participate.

    Chopra won the javelin throw title in the Ostrava Golden Spike 2025 meet with a best throw of 85.29 metres on Tuesday.

    He had clinched victory in the prestigious meet with one throw remaining as his best effort of 85.29m remained unbeaten after six rounds, securing him yet another top podium finish this season.

    It was the second title for Chopra within a month after he triumphed in the Paris Diamond League meet last week.

  • Student Rape Allegation Forces Trinamool to Disown Its Leader

    Admitting that the main accused is linked to its student wing, the party condemned attempts to politicise the issue.

    After the rape of a law student in Kolkata triggered a political firestorm, the Trinamool Congress has admitted that the main accused is linked to the party’s student wing but insisted that this would not come in the way of him getting the strictest possible punishment.

    The alleged gang rape of a law student from West Bengal’s Kolkata – months after the horrific RG Kar rape-murder case – has triggered a fresh and (furious) showdown between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the Assembly election next year.

    Three men – including Manojit Mishra, a 31-year-old former student of the South Calcutta Law College -in Kolkata’s Kasba area – have been arrested and charged with rape. The other two men – Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, according to news agency ANI – are believed to be current students.

    According to the police, mobile phones with videos of the rape – videos used to threaten and bully the 24-year-old survivor into staying silent about the attack – were seized from the accused.

    A practicing lawyer, Mishra is the primary accused and the BJP – on the warpath with one eye firmly on the forthcoming election – has shared photographs showing him with senior leaders from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool, including her nephew and second-in-command Abhishek Banerjee.

    The BJP has also raked up the RG Kar case to highlight the ‘sinking into lawlessness’.

    BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari and the party’s IT chief, Amit Malviya posted images that seem to show Mishra standing next to Trinamool leaders including Abhishek Banerjee; Health Minister Chandrima 

    The RG Kar Rape, Murder

    This comes 10 months after a rape and murder at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

    The RG Kar case, as that came to be called, made national headlines for its brutality; the woman’s body was found in a seminar room on the college premises and the autopsy concluded she had been raped and possibly tortured – there were injuries to her genitals, the left leg and right hand, and face.

    The cause of death was strangulation.

    Sanjay Roy, a 33-year-old civic volunteer for Kolkata Police, was arrested and convicted for the rape and murder of the woman, and was sentenced to life in prison, a punishment seen by many as lenient.

    Many, including the family, had demanded the death sentence.

  • Star-Patterned Luck: Horoscope-Based Numbers Bring Lottery Success

    A Maryland woman won $50,000 by using numbers from her horoscope to play the lottery and plans to keep manifesting bigger wins.

    In an extraordinary stroke of luck, a woman from Laurel, Maryland, won a $50,000 (Rs 42,78,125) lottery prize after using numbers from her horoscope, . The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, told Maryland Lottery officials that she felt a strong intuition to play the numbers 25569 revealed to her through her daily horoscope.

    Acting on her hunch, she purchased a Pick 5 ticket from the Sandy Spring Exxon located on Sandy Spring Road in Laurel. To her amazement, the numbers aligned perfectly, earning her a $50,000 windfall, according to UPI News.

    “I had a hunch and followed it,” she told Maryland Lottery officials. “Pay my bills and save. I want to be responsible with it,” she added, sharing her plans to use the prize money wisely. But she’s not stopping there.

    The lucky winner revealed that she’s already manifesting her next big win: “I’m manifesting $1 million. And you better believe I’ll be back to claim a bigger prize!”

    This is not the only incident when somebody has won a huge amount in the lottery. A few days back a man from Washington County, Maryland, won $100,000 (about Rs 86 lakh) by sticking to his usual lottery strategy – buying scratch-off tickets in pairs. The lucky winner told Maryland Lottery officials he was tempted to break his habit when he spotted a $50 $5,000,000 Fortune ticket at Wooden Keg Liquors in Hagerstown.

    The most I usually spend on a scratch-off is 20, but I decided to splurge,” he said. “The problem is that I always, always, always buy two of the same game. Every time.”

    With 100 in hand, he followed his instinct and bought two tickets.

    “I’d been thinking about it for a couple of days, so I was ready,” he said.

    He won his money back on the first ticket, but it was the second that brought the real surprise.

    “I kept uncovering 5,000 matches. There were so many of them. They just kept adding up,” he recalled.

    The second ticket ended up winning him a total of $100,000.

    “Any financial questions I had about my retirement were answered, with enough left over to share,” he added. 

  • Survival at Stake: Hamas Faces Rebellious Clans and Iran’s Shifting Position

    Hamas fighters are operating autonomously under orders to hold out as long as possible but it is struggling to maintain its grip due to Israel.

    Short of commanders, deprived of much of its tunnel network and unsure of support from its ally Iran, Hamas is battling to survive in Gaza in the face of rebellious local clans and relentless Israeli military pressure.

    Hamas fighters are operating autonomously under orders to hold out as long as possible but the Islamist group is struggling to maintain its grip as Israel openly backs tribes opposing it, three sources close to Hamas said.

    With a humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifying international pressure for a ceasefire, Hamas badly needs a pause in the fighting, one of the people said.

    Not only would a ceasefire offer respite to weary Gazans, who are growing increasingly critical of Hamas, but it would also allow the Islamist group to crush rogue elements, including some clans and looters who have been stealing aid, the person said.

    To counter the immediate threat, Hamas has sent some of its top fighters to kill one rebellious leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, but so far he has remained beyond their reach in the Rafah area held by Israeli troops, according to two Hamas sources and two other sources familiar with the situation.

    Reuters spoke to 16 sources including people close to Hamas, Israeli security sources and diplomats who painted a picture of a severely weakened group, retaining some sway and operational capacity in Gaza despite its setbacks, but facing stiff challenges.

    Hamas is still capable of landing blows: it killed seven Israeli soldiers in an attack in southern Gaza on Tuesday. But three diplomats in the Middle East said intelligence assessments showed it had lost its centralised command and control and was reduced to limited, surprise attacks.

    An Israeli military official estimated Israel had killed 20,000 or more Hamas fighters and destroyed or rendered unusable hundreds of miles of tunnels under the coastal strip. Much of Gaza has been turned to rubble in 20 months of conflict.

    One Israeli security source said the average age of Hamas fighters was “getting lower by the day”. Israeli security sources say Hamas is recruiting from hundreds of thousands of impoverished, unemployed, displaced young men.

    Hamas does not disclose how many of its fighters have died.

    “They’re hiding because they are being instantly hit by planes but they appear here and there, organising queues in front of bakeries, protecting aid trucks, or punishing criminals,” said Essam, 57 a construction worker in Gaza City.

    “They’re not like before the war, but they exist.”

    Asked for comment for this story, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the group was working for an agreement to end the war with Israel but “surrender is not an option”.

    Hamas remained committed to negotiations and was “ready to release all prisoners at once”, he said, referring to Israeli hostages, but it wanted the killing to stop and Israel to withdraw.

    ‘It Doesn’t Look Good’

    Hamas is a shadow of the group that attacked Israel in 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking another 253 hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s offensive has killed more than 56,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

    The damage inflicted by Israel is unlike anything Hamas has suffered since its creation, with most of its top military commanders in Gaza killed. Founded in 1987, Hamas had gradually established itself as the main rival of the Fatah faction led by President Mahmoud Abbas and finally seized Gaza from his control in 2007.

    With a U.S.-brokered truce in the Iran-Israel war holding, attention has switched back to the possibility of a Gaza deal that might end the conflict and release the remaining hostages.

    One of the people close to Hamas told Reuters it would welcome a truce, even for a couple of months, to confront the local clans that are gaining influence.

    But he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s terms for ending the war – including Hamas leaders leaving Gaza – would amount to total defeat, and Hamas would never surrender.

    “We keep the faith, but in reality it doesn’t look good,” the source said.

    Yezid Sayigh, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, said he believed Hamas was simply trying to survive. That was not just a physical challenge of holding out militarily, he said, but above all a political one.

    “They face being eliminated on the ground in Gaza if the war doesn’t stop, but they also face being erased from any governing formula that ends the war in Gaza (if such a thing can be found),” he wrote in response to Reuters’ questions.

    Palestinian tribes have emerged as part of Israel’s strategy to counter Hamas. Netanyahu has said publicly that Israel has been arming clans that oppose Hamas, but has not said which.

    One of the most prominent challenges has come from Abu Shabab, a Palestinian Bedouin based in the Rafah area, which is under Israeli control.

    Hamas wants Abu Shabab captured, dead or alive, accusing him of collaboration with Israel and planning attacks on the Islamist group, three Hamas sources told Reuters.

    Abu Shabab controls eastern Rafah and his group is believed to have freedom of movement in the wider Rafah area. Images on their Facebook page show their armed men organising the entry of aid trucks from the Kerem Shalom crossing.

    Announcements by his group indicate that it is trying to build an independent administration in the area, though they deny trying to become a governing authority. The group has called on people from Rafah now in other areas of Gaza to return home, promising food and shelter.

    In response to Reuters’ questions, Abu Shabab’s group denied getting support from Israel or contacts with the Israeli army, describing itself as a popular force protecting humanitarian aid from looting by escorting aid trucks.

    It accused Hamas of violence and muzzling dissent.

    A Hamas security official said the Palestinian security services would “strike with an iron fist to uproot the gangs of the collaborator Yasser Abu Shabab”, saying they would show no mercy or hesitation and accusing him of being part of “an effort to create chaos and lawlessness”.

    Not all of Gaza’s clans are at odds with Hamas, however.

    On Thursday, a tribal alliance said its men had protected aid trucks from looters in northern Gaza. Sources close to Hamas said the group had approved of the alliance’s involvement.

    Israel said Hamas fighters had in fact commandeered the trucks, which both the clans and Hamas denied.

    Iran Uncertainty

    Palestinian analyst Akram Attallah said the emergence of Abu Shabab was a result of the weakness of Hamas, though he expected him to fail ultimately because Palestinians broadly reject any hint of collaboration with Israel.

    Nevertheless, regardless of how small Abu Shabab’s group is, the fact Hamas has an enemy from the same culture was dangerous, he said. “It remains a threat until it is dealt with.”

    Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran has added to the uncertainties facing Hamas. Tehran’s backing for Hamas played a big part in developing its armed wing into a force capable of shooting missiles deep into Israel.

    While both Iran and Israel have claimed victory, Netanyahu on Sunday indicated the Israeli campaign against Tehran had further strengthened his hand in Gaza, saying it would “help us expedite our victory and the release of all our hostages”.

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that great progress was being made on Gaza, adding that the strike on Iran would help get the hostages released.

    A Palestinian official close to Hamas said the group was weighing the risk of diminished Iranian backing, anticipating “the impact will be on the shape of funding and the expertise Iran used to give to the resistance and Hamas”.

    One target of Israel’s campaign in Iran was a Revolutionary Guards officer who oversaw coordination with Hamas. Israel said Saeed Izadi, whose death it announced on Saturday, was the driving force behind the Iran-Hamas axis.

    Hamas extended condolences to Iran on Thursday, calling Izadi a friend who was directly responsible for ties with “the leadership of the Palestinian resistance”.

    A source from an Iran-backed group in the region said Izadi helped develop Hamas capabilities, including how to carry out complex attacks, including rocket launches, infiltration operations, and drones.

    Asked about how the Israeli campaign against Iran might affect its support for Hamas, Abu Zuhri said Iran was a large and powerful country that would not be defeated.

  • Cycling Attack in Bawana: 43‑Year‑Old Deepak Killed, Little Girl Hurt

    Two attackers on a motorcycle opened fire on Deepak, firing multiple rounds.

    A 30-year-old man named Deepak, the nephew of notorious Delhi gangster Manjit Mahal, was shot dead while on a morning walk in the Bawana area of Delhi. The incident took place between 7 and 8 AM in Nagal Thakran village. According to Delhi Police sources, the murder is suspected to be the handiwork of the Kapil Sangwan gang, led by gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu, who is currently based in London.

    Two attackers on a motorcycle opened fire on Deepak, firing multiple rounds. Deepak died on the spot, and his daughter, who was accompanying him, sustained a gunshot injury to her hand. She is currently out of danger. Deepak’s parents, who were also walking behind him, reported that the attackers even issued death threats to them.

    Preliminary investigation reveals that after the initial firing, the shooters returned to the spot and shot Deepak again before fleeing. Deepak reportedly suffered 7-8 bullet wounds, though the exact number will be confirmed after the post-mortem.

    Police sources confirm that Deepak had no criminal background, despite being related to gangster Manjit Mahal. Locals and villagers told NDTV that Deepak was a simple, well-behaved man with no involvement in crime.

    CCTV footage shows the two attackers on a bike around 6:12 AM, shortly after Deepak left his house for his walk. According to residents, the attackers had been conducting reconnaissance in the area for the past 3-4 days.

    Family members suspect the murder may be linked to Deepak’s mother visiting Manjit Mahal’s home last month during a family wedding and mourning ceremony. Deepak is survived by his wife and two children, aged 8 and 11. His family has not yet informed his wife of his death.

    Police have identified one of the attackers and are continuing their investigation, including analysis of CCTV footage. They say the motive will only become clear once the accused are arrested. Notably, the long-standing rivalry between Manjit Mahal and Nandu has claimed multiple lives over the years, including the killing of a BJP leader allegedly by Nandu’s gang two years ago. A Red Corner Notice has been issued against Nandu, but he remains missing

  • Class 1 Admissions in Delhi Restricted to 6+ Age Group from

    Delhi School Admission Minimum Age: This move is aimed at restructuring the foundational stage of schooling across government, government-aided, and recognised private schools in the capital.

    Delhi School Admission Age: The Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi has announced a major shift in the school admission structure by aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Starting academic session 2026-27, children will be eligible for admission to Class 1 only after they complete six years of age. This move is aimed at restructuring the foundational stage of schooling across government, government-aided, and recognised private schools in the capital.

    What Will Change?

    As per the new framework, the foundational stage-spanning three years before Class 1-will be formalised as part of school education. The updated structure will follow these age criteria:

    • Nursery (Bal Vatika/ Preschool 1): 3+ years
    • Lower KG (Preschool 2): 4+ years
    • Upper KG (Preschool 3): 5+ years
    • Class 1: 6+ years

    The DoE has clarified that the titles of pre-primary classes (Nursery, LKG, UKG) may be renamed in line with evolving practices.

    What Schools and Parents Should Know

    The circular mandates all schools under the DoE’s jurisdiction to implement this revised structure starting 2026-27. While detailed implementation guidelines will follow, the policy shift is aimed at ensuring that students entering formal schooling are developmentally ready, as envisioned under the NEP 2020 and RTE Act, 2009.

    Call for Suggestions

    To make the process more inclusive, the DoE has invited feedback from all stakeholders-teachers, parents, students, school bodies, experts, and the public. Inputs can be shared at schoolbranchnep@gmail.com by July 10, 2025.

    This new circular supersedes all previous orders related to age criteria and foundational stage structuring in Delhi schools.