EXTRAORDINARY
Published by Authority
CHANDIGARH,WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2026 (PAUSA 24, 1947 SAKA)
GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION
(Education-7 Branch)
NOTIFICATION
The 7th January, 2026
No.SED-EDU7013/14/2025-EDUCATION-7/I/1284700/2026 .- In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 38 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (Central Act No. 35 of 2009), and all other powers enabling the State Government in this behalf, and in supersession of the earlier Notification No. 2/4/10-2E7/8770 Education-7/2010/18/11/10 dated 18th November, 2010, the Governor of Punjab is pleased to issue the following guidelines for implementation of the provisions of Section 12(1) (c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 [hereinafter referred as RTE Act], in order to clarify and extend the categories of children eligible for admission, namely-
1. Children, belonging to a parent or guardian whose gross family income from all sources is below 8.0 lakhs per annum (fixed vide letter no. 1/16/2019-RCI/116 dated 14th May, 2019 of Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Punjab, as amended from time to time, copy attached), shall be identified as children belonging to Weaker Section for the purposes of Section 12(1) (c) of "The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act-2009"
Note: * The EWS income limit shall be subject to annual revision by the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Punjab.
2. The term "child belonging to disadvantaged group" as used in section 2 (d) of the RTE Act shall mean a child belonging to any of the following categories:-
(i) Scheduled Caste
(ii) Backward Class/ Other Backward Classes not falling in the creamy layer.
(iii) Children of war widows.
PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), JANUARY 14, 2026 (PAUSA 24, 1947 SAKA) 493 (v) Children with special needs and suffering from disability as defined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.(vi) Orphan children (as defined in Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015).
3. The ratio of reservation between children belonging to the Economically Weaker Section and the Disadvantaged Groups shall remain 50:50.
4. On the basis of above, the private unaided schools as defined under Section 2 (n) (iv) of the RTE Act shall provide reservation for admission to the children belonging to the different groups as under:
Category
Percentage Economic Weaker Section
12.5%
Disadvantaged Groups
(i) Scheduled Caste
(ii) Backward Class/Other Backward Classes not falling in the creamy
layer.
(iii) Children of War widows.
12.5%
(iv) Children of disabled persons (Minimum 40% disability).
(v) Children with special needs and suffering from disability as defined in the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
(vi) Orphan children (as defined in Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Act, 2015).
5. The fee of the children belonging to the Economically Weaker Section and Disadvantaged Groups shall be reimbursed by the State Government as per the provision of section 12(2) of the RTE Act, 2009 read with the Rule 8 of the Punjab Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011.
6. This notification shall come into force with immediate effect, i.e., from the date of its issuance.
ANINDITA MITRA, I.A.S Chandigarh
Secretary to Government of Punjab The 6th January, 2026
Department of School Education
3612/1-2026/Pb. Govt. Press, S.A.S. Nagar