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The Department of Education has invited applications from private unaided schools in both conforming and non-conforming sectors for seeking recognition.
DOE has directed all private unaided schools with expired provisional recognition to complete the procedural formalities and ensure immediate extension. (Symbolic/file photo)
The Delhi government has decided to recognize private unaided schools in non-conforming areas, which will create around 20,000 new seats for economically weaker sections, disadvantaged groups and children with special needs, PTI reported. Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said the initiative aims to address a decade-old issue affecting many schools that are operating without formal recognition due to procedural hurdles or the discriminatory approach of the previous administration.
This issue remained suppressed in the files for more than a decade and children were deprived of their right to education. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, we have ended this selective discrimination. This is not only an administrative reform but also justice for our children and fairness for our institutions, Sood said.
The minister said around 500 schools are expected to come under the Directorate of Education (DoE), which will ensure validity, regulatory oversight and accountability. The directorate receives approximately 2 lakh applications annually from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Disadvantaged Group (DG), and Children with Special Needs (CWSN) categories for approximately 40,000 seats, many of which remain vacant due to lack of recognized schools.
The minister said the new recognition policy is expected to create around 20,000 additional seats, thereby increasing equitable access to education.
According to the DOE, many private schools in Delhi are running without valid recognition, while some schools which were earlier recognized failed to apply for extension after their provisional approval expired.
As a one-time opportunity in public interest, the Education Department invited applications from private unaided schools in both conforming and non-conforming sectors for seeking recognition.
This process will strictly follow the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and other relevant instructions and circulars issued from time to time.
The online portal of DOE will be open for applications from November 1 to November 30, 2025. Schools must submit documents as per a 73-point pro form prescribed by the DOE, which assesses legal, infrastructural, security, emergency preparedness and academic standards.
The department said recognition will be granted only after detailed inspection and verification of compliance with all statutory requirements.
DOE has directed all private unaided schools with expired provisional recognition to complete the procedural formalities and ensure immediate extension.
Failure to comply will result in punitive action under Section 18 of the RTI Act, 2009, including a fine of Rs 1 lakh and an additional Rs 10,000 per day for ongoing violations. Administrative and statutory action can also be initiated under the RTE Act and DSEAR.
The department also clarified that reimbursement for admission under EWS, DG and CWSN categories will be considered only for those schools which have a valid recognition letter from DOE at the time of submission of reimbursement claims.
The minister noted that the last accreditation drive in 2013 benefited only a few schools through selective approval, while the new process ensures transparency and fairness.
Recognition under DSEAR and RTE Act requires compliance with norms related to infrastructure, security, teacher qualification and fee transparency, and allows schools to be upgraded to secondary and senior secondary level.
Parents are advised to enroll their children only in DOE-recognized schools to ensure validity of certificates, security compliance and eligibility for government benefits. The DOE said the government assured that no students will face disruption during the transition, as the process is designed to protect continuity of learning.
Sood called it a historic decision, adding that the reform legitimizes educational operations, secures the continuity of school education, and strengthens the Delhi government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and accountable governance in education.
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November 01, 2025, 12:44 IST
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