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PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), JANUARY 14, 2026 (PAUSA 24, 1947 SAKA)

EXTRAORDINARY

Published by Authority

CHANDIGARH,WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2026 (PAUSA 24, 1947SAKA)

( 492 )

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-

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.

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.

(iv)

Children of disabled persons (Minimum 40% disability).

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PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), JANUARY 14, 2026 (PAUSA 24, 1947 SAKA)

(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).

The ratio of reservation between children belonging to the Economically Weaker Section and the

Disadvantaged Groups shall remain 50:50.

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).

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.

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