The Maharashtra School Education and Sports Department opened the RTE Maharashtra Admission 2026-27 application process on February 17, 2026 at the official portal student.maharashtra.gov.in. The application window was extended twice โ first to March 18, then to March 31, 2026. Applications are now closed. The lottery draw will be held on April 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM at SCERT Pune, with a live broadcast on the SCERT YouTube channel.
Under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act, 2009, every private unaided non-minority school in Maharashtra must reserve 25% of seats in entry-level classes for children from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Disadvantaged Groups (DG) โ completely free of cost. For 2026-27, over 1,08,000 seats across 8,800+ schools are available statewide. In Mumbai alone, 5,939 seats across 323 schools are available.
๐ด Latest Update โ April 3, 2026
Maharashtra RTE Lottery Draw: April 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM at SCERT Pune. Live broadcast on SCERT YouTube Channel. Check result at student.maharashtra.gov.in after the draw.
Source: MarathiAlert / Maharashtra School Education & Sports Department โ April 3, 2026 | Lokmat Times โ February 17, 2026
Maharashtra RTE 2026-27 โ Key Numbers
1,08,000+
Total seats available across Maharashtra 2026-27
8,800+
Private schools participating across the state
โน1L
Max annual family income for EWS eligibility
5,939
Mumbai seats โ 323 schools (BMC confirmed)
RTE Maharashtra Admission 2026-27 โ Complete Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | Maharashtra School Education and Sports Department |
| Scheme | RTE Act 2009, Section 12(1)(c) โ 25% Reservation |
| Academic Year | 2026-27 |
| Entry Classes | Nursery, Jr. KG (LKG), Sr. KG (UKG), and Class 1 |
| Total Seats | 1,08,000+ across Maharashtra |
| Participating Schools | 8,800+ private unaided non-minority schools |
| Application Start Date | February 17, 2026 |
| Application Last Date (Extended) | March 31, 2026 (Closed) |
| Income Limit (EWS) | โน1,00,000 per year (โน1 lakh) |
| Age Cutoff Date | December 31, 2026 (as per GR) |
| ๐ด Lottery Draw Date | April 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM โ SCERT Pune (Live on YouTube) |
| 2nd Lottery (if seats remain) | May 2026 |
| School Radius Rule | 1 km strict (new 2026-27 rule) |
| Max Schools to Select | Up to 10 schools within 1โ3 km |
| Official Portal | student.maharashtra.gov.in |
| Boards Covered | Maharashtra State Board (SSC), CBSE, ICSE |
Important Dates โ Complete Schedule
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Application Window Opens | February 17, 2026 | โ Done |
| Original Last Date | March 10, 2026 | โ Extended |
| 1st Extension Last Date | March 18, 2026 | โ Extended Again |
| Final Last Date (Extended) | March 31, 2026 | ๐ด Closed |
| ๐ฒ Lottery Draw | April 6, 2026 โ 11:00 AM | โณ 2 Days Away |
| 1st Selection List Released | April 2026 (post lottery) | ๐ Upcoming |
| Admission Confirmation (Round 1) | April 2026 | ๐ Upcoming |
| 2nd Lottery / Selection List | May 2026 (if seats remain) | ๐ Upcoming |
| 3rd / Final Round | June 2026 (if seats remain) | ๐ Upcoming |
Two Major New Rules for 2026-27
This year’s RTE Maharashtra cycle introduced two significant rule changes that tightened eligibility and transparency:
Eligibility Criteria โ Who Can Apply
๐
Residency
Child must be a domicile of Maharashtra. Address proof must match the home location pinned on Google Maps during application.
๐ฐ
Income (EWS)
Annual family income must be below โน1,00,000. Income certificate from Tehsildar or competent authority required.
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง
Family Rule
A maximum of 2 children from one family can benefit from the scheme. Single parents are also eligible to apply.
Age Limit by Entry Class (Cutoff: December 31, 2026)
| Entry Class | Minimum Age | Maximum Age | Born Between (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery | 3 years | 4 years | Jan 2023 โ Dec 2023 |
| Jr. KG (LKG) | 4 years | 5 years | Jan 2022 โ Dec 2022 |
| Sr. KG (UKG) | 5 years | 6 years | Jan 2021 โ Dec 2021 |
| Class 1 | 6 years | 7 years | Jan 2020 โ Dec 2020 |
Disadvantaged Groups (DG) โ Eligible Categories
Children from the following Disadvantaged Group categories are eligible regardless of income โ they must provide community/category certificates:
Documents Required โ Upload at Time of Application
All documents must be scanned and ready before starting the application. Format: JPG or PDF, under 200KB each. No later upload is allowed in 2026-27.
Child’s Birth Certificate
Must match date of birth entered in the form exactly
Child’s Aadhaar Card
For identity verification
Income Certificate
For EWS. From Tehsildar or competent authority. Income must be below โน1,00,000/year
Proof of Residence
Must match location pinned on Google Maps in portal
Parent / Guardian Aadhaar
For identity and address verification
Caste / Category Certificate
For SC/ST/OBC/NT โ from authorised issuing authority
Disability Certificate (if applicable)
Required for children with disabilities โ must show at least 40% disability
Child’s Photograph
Recent passport-sized, clearly visible face
How to Apply Online at student.maharashtra.gov.in
Note: The application window is now closed (last date was March 31, 2026). This guide is for reference for the next cycle and for parents verifying their submitted applications.
Visit Official Portal
Go to student.maharashtra.gov.in โ click “RTE 25% Admission for 2026-27” link on homepage.
New Registration
Click Online Application โ New Registrations. Register with mobile number. Application number and password sent via SMS.
Fill Child & Parent Details
Enter names exactly as they appear on official documents. Enter child’s DOB precisely โ cannot be changed after submission.
Pin Location on Google Maps
Use the portal’s balloon feature to pin your exact doorstep. Distance is calculated automatically from this pin. You can adjust it up to 5 times. A slight error here can reduce your school options drastically.
Select Schools (Up to 10)
Schools within 1 km appear first. You can select up to 10 schools in order of preference. Schools within 1 km get priority in lottery; 1โ3 km get secondary consideration.
Upload Documents
Upload all scanned documents. JPG or PDF format, each under 200KB. This is mandatory at submission โ no later upload.
Submit & Save Credentials
Review everything. Click Submit. Download the acknowledgement receipt and save your Application Number and Password โ needed to check lottery result later.
How to Check RTE Maharashtra Lottery Result 2026-27
The lottery draw is on April 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM. The result will be available on the official portal immediately after the draw. Here is how to check:
Click on “Selected โ Primary Selection List” (เคฎเฅเคณ เคจเคฟเคตเคก เคฏเคพเคฆเฅ)
Select your district from the dropdown โ download the PDF list for your district
Alternative: Click “Application Wise Details / เค เคฐเฅเคเคพเคเฅ เคธเฅเคฅเคฟเคคเฅ” โ enter your Application Number to check your individual status
Or login at student.maharashtra.gov.in/adm_portal/users/login with your Application Number and DOB to see your result
After the Lottery โ What to Do Next
Step 1: Check Your Result
Check the portal on April 6 evening. Parents will also receive SMS alerts on the registered mobile number. Do not rely solely on SMS โ verify on the portal directly.
Step 2: Download Allotment Letter
If selected, download the Provisional Allotment Letter from your login. No physical letters are sent. This letter is required for document verification at the school.
Step 3: Document Verification
Report to the designated scrutiny committee with originals and attested copies of all documents submitted in the application. Also carry a printout of the Guarantee Letter available on the RTE portal. Obtain a confirmation receipt after verification.
Step 4: Confirm Admission
Complete admission at the allotted school within the deadline announced after the lottery. Missing the deadline means your seat is cancelled and may go to a waiting list candidate in Round 2.
Not Selected? โ Wait for Round 2
If your child is not selected in Round 1, the government conducts a 2nd lottery in May 2026 for vacant seats. A 3rd round may also follow in June 2026. Keep checking the portal. Waiting list candidates are offered seats in subsequent rounds if selected candidates do not confirm.
How the Maharashtra RTE Lottery Works
The Maharashtra RTE lottery is a centralised computerised system run by SCERT Pune. Here is the exact logic used for seat allotment:
๐
1 km Priority First
All candidates within 1 km of a school are processed before candidates at 1โ3 km. Within the 1 km group, seats are allocated using a random serial number lottery until all vacancies are filled.
๐ฏ
Only Oversubscribed Schools
The lottery is conducted only for schools where applications exceed the 25% reserved seats. If a school has fewer applicants than seats, all eligible applicants may be admitted directly without a draw.
๐ซ
Multi-School Applications
A candidate who applied to 10 schools can receive allotment to any of those schools โ they are not excluded after being allotted one. The system considers all preferred schools in lottery order.
๐
Reserved Category Priority
Students from DG (SC/ST/OBC/NT) and special categories (orphans, disabled, HIV-affected) receive priority in the allotment process before general EWS applicants are considered.
How to Check Maharashtra RTE School List 2026-27
To view all eligible private schools with available RTE seats in your area:
Go to student.maharashtra.gov.in โ click “School List”
Select your District, Taluka, and Ward/Village
Filter by medium of instruction (Marathi, English, Urdu, Semi-English, etc.)
Click Search โ list of participating schools with available seats appears. Schools affiliated with SSC, CBSE, and ICSE boards are included.
Frequently Asked Questions
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