Minimum age for class 1 admission relaxed for 2025-26, says Minister Madhu Bangarappa
Bengaluru, April 17: Karnataka's Primary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Wednesday announced that the state government has relaxed the minimum age requirement for admission to Class 1 for the academic year 2025-26, responding to repeated appeals from parents.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, the minister stated that children who have completed 5 years and 5 months of age as of June 1, 2025, will be eligible for admission into Class 1 for this year. However, from the academic year 2026-27 onwards, the age criterion will return to the earlier requirement — that a child must have completed 6 years of age to enter Class 1.
Madhu Bangarappa clarified that despite the relaxation in age, children must have completed Upper Kindergarten (UKG) before being admitted to Class 1. “We are allowing this concession only for the current academic year, based on the recommendations of the State Education Policy Commission and after considering the requests from parents,” he said.
The minister reiterated that the relaxation is temporary and aimed at ensuring a smooth transition without disrupting the academic plans of parents and schools. He added that the decision aligns with the recommendations of the State Education Policy Commission, which has studied the matter and supported a phased implementation of the revised age criteria.
Parents across the state had earlier expressed concerns over the sudden enforcement of the 6-year age requirement, which they said would affect thousands of children already enrolled in pre-primary levels.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India distances itself from Gaurav Arya’s remarks against Iranian Foreign Minister
New Delhi: India on Saturday distanced itself from remarks made by former army officer and television personality Gaurav Arya against Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, after the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi objected to Arya's comments.
Arya, in a video shared online, criticised Araghchi for choosing to visit Pakistan before coming to India amid heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. His remarks sparked a diplomatic reaction from Iran, with its embassy in India responding strongly.
“Respect for guests has a long-standing tradition in Iranian culture,” the Iranian Embassy stated on X (formerly Twitter), while sharing the video. “We Iranians consider our guests to be beloved by God. How about you?”
Following the diplomatic protest, the Indian Embassy in Tehran issued a clarification stating that Arya is a private individual and his views do not reflect the official stance of the Indian government.
“The individual in the video is a private Indian citizen. His statements have no connection with the official position of India,” the embassy stated. “The Government of India considers the disrespectful tone used in the video to be inappropriate.”
The Iranian foreign minister had paid an unscheduled visit to Pakistan on May 5 to hold talks with its top leadership amid increasing tensions with India. He later returned to Tehran before heading to New Delhi to co-chair a bilateral Joint Commission meeting, his first visit to India since becoming Iran’s foreign minister in August 2024.
Last month, Araghchi had also offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to “forge greater understanding” following a series of cross-border incidents.
_vb_40.jpeg)
