For thousands of families in Noida, the Right to Education 25% quota is one of the most important routes to quality private schooling at no tuition cost. Under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, unaided recognised private schools must reserve at least 25% of their entry level seats for children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups, and Uttar Pradesh has now notified the full online schedule for the 2026–27 session.
What is the RTE 25% quota
Under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009, private unaided schools are required to admit children from specified weaker and disadvantaged categories in at least 25% of seats at entry level classes such as Nursery, LKG, UKG and Class 1. The state reimburses schools as per notified norms, while parents do not pay tuition fees, making this a critical inclusion mechanism in urban centres like Noida and Ghaziabad.
The law defines “economically weaker section” and “disadvantaged group” in the state rules, which typically cover low income families, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and children with disabilities among others. The aim is to ensure that children from these groups learn in the same classrooms as their peers, thereby improving both access and social integration.
Key dates for 2026–27 in Noida and UP
For the 2026–27 academic session, the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department has issued a three phase online schedule for RTE 25% quota admissions. Applications will be accepted and processed only through the state RTE portal, and admission will be finalised via a computerised lottery to ensure transparency.
According to the state timetable, applications will be invited in three phases: Phase 1 from 2 to 16 February 2026, Phase 2 from 21 February to 7 March 2026 and Phase 3 from 12 to 25 March 2026, with lotteries held and admissions completed soon after each window. The schedule has been designed so that all RTE admissions are completed before the new academic session begins in April, avoiding previous years’ delays that left children joining mid session.
Age and eligibility criteria for entry classes
Eligibility under the RTE 25% quota depends on both age and category. For 2026–27 in Uttar Pradesh, children aged 3 to 4 years on 1 April 2026 can apply for Nursery, 4 to 5 years for LKG, 5 to 6 years for UKG and 6 to 7 years for Class 1, as per recent state level guidance. Parents should carefully check the age calculation with respect to 1 April 2026, since even small differences may affect the eligible class.
In addition to age, children must belong to the categories defined in the state rules for economically weaker sections or disadvantaged groups, which are used to determine who can apply under the 25% quota. Income thresholds and the exact list of categories are notified by the state and parents in Noida should verify these on the official portal or district website before applying.
Online application, lottery and verification
For the 2026–27 cycle, Uttar Pradesh has fully shifted RTE 25% quota admissions to the online portal at rte25.upsdc.gov.in. Parents register with a mobile number, enter Aadhaar details of guardians and upload required documents before selecting nearby recognised private schools within their ward or gram panchayat.
Applications are verified in two tiers, first by the block education officer and then by the district basic education officer, and seats are allotted through an online lottery conducted phase wise. In Noida, block wise nodal officers and helpdesks at key government offices have been planned to guide parents who may not be comfortable with online forms, ensuring that digital access does not become a barrier.
Required documents and Aadhaar rules
The state has specified a standard list of documents that must be uploaded with the online application. These typically include the child’s birth certificate, income certificate, residence certificate, caste certificate if applicable, disability certificate if applicable, ration card and pension documents where relevant.
Recent instructions clarify that while parents’ Aadhaar details must be provided and linked to their bank accounts for reimbursement related processes, the child’s Aadhaar card is not mandatory at the time of application for the RTE admission itself. Parents in Noida are advised to start obtaining or updating income, residence, caste and disability certificates well before the application phases, as local authorities have been directed to prioritise timely issuance but processing can still take some time.
Rights of parents and duties of schools
The Uttar Pradesh government has reiterated that schools cannot charge any admission or other prohibited fees from children admitted under the RTE quota. Denial of admission to an allotted child, asking for extra money or harassing parents can invite action under Section 13 of the RTE Act, including penalties and, in serious cases, withdrawal of the school’s recognition.
Schools are also required to earmark at least 25% of their entry level seats under the RTE quota before the admission process begins and to update the admission status of each allotted child on the online portal. For parents, it is important to keep copies of all submitted documents and the allotment letter, and to ensure that the child actually joins classes by the date mentioned in the enrolment order issued after the lottery.
Practical tips for Noida parents
Parents in Noida should begin by checking their eligibility category and preparing all supporting documents, including up to date income and residence certificates, before the first phase starts on 2 February 2026. It is useful to identify and list nearby recognised private schools in advance so that the correct neighbourhood schools can be selected on the portal.
Families who are not familiar with online forms can visit the RTE helpdesks planned at the district magistrate’s office, block offices, health centres and education department offices in Gautam Budh Nagar, which have been instructed to assist with applications. Keeping track of lottery dates and regularly checking SMS alerts or the portal helps ensure that parents do not miss enrolment deadlines once a seat is allotted.
Parents and schools should always rely on official government sources for final rules, dates and formats. The following links are key reference points for RTE 25% quota admissions in Noida and across Uttar Pradesh.
Official links for readers
Parents and schools should always rely on official government sources for final rules, dates and formats. The following links are key reference points for RTE 25% quota admissions in Noida and across Uttar Pradesh.
- Uttar Pradesh RTE 25% admission portal: https://rte25.upsdc.gov.in
- UP Basic Education Department (notifications and orders): https://basiceducation.up.gov.in
- Prerna UP unified portal: https://prernaup.in
- Gautam Budh Nagar district primary education page: https://gbnagar.nic.in/primary-education/
- Ghaziabad district RTE information: https://ghaziabad.nic.in
- NCPCR model SOP for Section 12(1)(c) implementation: https://ncpcr.gov.in
- Ministry of Education, Department of School Education & Literacy: https://dsel.education.gov.in
Helpline contacts
- UP Basic Education Department toll-free: 1800-889-3277
- Gautam Budh Nagar BSA office: 6391003503
- Email for Gautam Budh Nagar queries: bsagbn@gmail.com
Important note for applicants
This article provides general information about RTE 25% quota admissions in Noida and Uttar Pradesh for the 2026-27 session based on available official notifications and guidelines. Parents and guardians are strongly advised to verify all dates, eligibility criteria, required documents and procedures on the official UP RTE portal at rte25.upsdc.gov.in and with their district basic education office before applying. Admission rules, schedules and requirements are subject to change by competent authorities. For final and binding information, always refer to official government notifications and the state RTE portal.
