"Close to 1,700 private unaided recognised schools in the city have uploaded their criteria and point on the websites," an official from the Directorate of Education (DoE) told IANS, adding the forms are available for the parents.

The DoE had said the schools will have to upload the criteria and point, on the basis of which the admission would be granted, on the website by Thursday and the forms are made available from Friday -- also the date for commencement of admission process.

The DoE circular said all private unaided recognised schools admitting children in pre-school, pre-primary and/or Class-I level shall reserve 25 per cent of seats for EWS/DG category students and Child with Disability.

"Only Rs 25 (non-refundable) can be charged from the parents as admission registration fee. The purchase of prospectus of the school by the parents is optional," the DoE said in a circular.

The last date of submission of application forms in schools will be December 27 and the first list will be out on January 24, 2020.

"On February 12, 2020, the second list will be out. March 16, 2020, will be the date for closure of the admission process, the circular said.

"The draw of lots (if any), shall be conducted in a transparent manner in the presence of parents. All the eligible parents of students in the draw of lots will be informed well in advance by the school. The draw of lots will be conducted under videography and its footage to be maintained/retained by the school. The slips will be shown to the parents before putting in the box, being used for the draw of lots," the circular added.

It also said that no private unaided recognised schools shall process the admission of EWS/DG/free ship category students manually.

"The department shall conduct a computerised draw of lots for admission of EWS/DG Category Students in all the private unaided recognised schools and the free ship category students in all the private unaided recognised schools running on government allotted land and regulated by the DoE," it added.

For admission in the Pre-school (Nursery), Pre-Primary (KG) and Class-1, the minimum age for admission in this class shall be three years, four years and five years respectively by March 31 of the year in which admission is being sought. Similarly, the upper age limit for admission in nursery, kindergarten and Class 1 is four years, five years and six years, respectively.

The DoE also reminded the schools that they cannot collect any capitation fee or donation from the parents at the time of the admission.

"Capitation fee means any kind of donation or contribution or payment other than the fee notified by the school. Any school or person who contravenes this provision and receives capitation fee will be punishable with fine which may extend to ten times the capitation fee charged."