RTE admission: how to apply for a free private-school seat
Last checked against official sources:
Drafted from official sources; final human double-check pending — details could shift slightly.
Apply for a free seat under the Right to Education Act's 25% reservation for economically weaker sections in private schools.
Can this be done online?
Fully online
What you'll typically need
- Child's birth certificate
- Address/domicile proof
- Income certificate
- Category certificate
Government fee
Free — RTE application and admissionRTE seats are free of cost by law. Exact application windows, portals, and document checklists vary significantly by state and change yearly — the details above are drawn from secondary aggregator coverage of state RTE schemes, not independently verified against each state's official portal. Check your specific state education department's site for the current cycle.
Steps
- Watch for your state education department's announced RTE application window — dates change every year
- Register and apply on your state's official RTE admission portal
- Upload required documents (birth certificate, address proof, income/category certificate)
- Seats are typically allotted via a computerised lottery after document verification
Frequently asked questions
Can I do this online?
Yes, you can do this fully online on the official portal.
How much does it cost?
It's free (RTE application and admission).
Which documents do I need?
Child's birth certificate; Address/domicile proof; Income certificate; Category certificate. Swikaar's plan narrows this to what applies to you.
Where do I apply?
On the official site: Directorate of Education, Delhi (example state portal). Swikaar doesn't submit applications or collect government fees.
How do I track it?
Trackable on your state's RTE admission portal.
Get a plan personalised to your exact situation.
Start with SwikaarSource: Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi · Last verified 2026-09-13