MargadarshiniFree 25% seats in private schools (RTE Act)తె
AP

Which is your state?

Telangana86 guidesAndhra Pradesh68 guides

Free 25% seats in private schools (RTE Act)

Who can get a free Class 1 seat in a private unaided school in Andhra Pradesh under section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, when and how to apply, and whom to tell if something goes wrong.

About this guidePending verification

Published on 12-11-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.

Where:OnlineAt the office

For whom: Parents of children about to join Class 1: orphans, children affected by HIV, children with disabilities, SC and ST children, and children of BC, minority and OC families with a low income.

1Your situation

We show only what your answers need.

Which of these groups is your child in?

Your answers stay on this phone.

2Documents you need

Tick the ones you have. They are kept in this browser.

  • If you don't have it: → Getting a new Aadhaar
    Details

    Sources: 2, 3, 1

  • Details

    Any one of: Aadhaar, voter ID, electricity bill, telephone bill, water bill, house tax receipt, driving licence, copy of a rent agreement, rice card, certificate from an employer, certificate from the Tahsildar or the local body, LPG bill. For a child living in a child care institution, a certificate from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

    Sources: 1

  • If you don't have it: → Birth certificate
    Details

    Any one of: any proof of date of birth valid under the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016 (such as a birth certificate), a hospital or ANM register record, an anganwadi record, or an affidavit of the child's age by the parent or guardian.

    Not confirmed: The department's Telugu instruction sheet calls the birth certificate compulsory for completing the admission, while the notification also accepts the other proofs listed here. Take the birth certificate if you have one.

    Sources: 1, 2, 4

  • If you don't have it: → Rice card (ration card)
    Details

    Not confirmed: The department's Telugu instruction sheet also lists an annual income certificate issued by the Revenue or other authorities concerned; the notification says the rice card or AAY card is enough.

    Sources: 1, 4

  • If you don't have it: → Disability certificate (SADAREM)
    Details

    Sources: 1, 2

  • If you don't have it: → Caste certificate (integrated certificate)
    Details

    Not confirmed: The notification's list does not name a caste certificate, but the department's Telugu instruction sheet for 2026-27 lists a caste certificate issued by the Revenue or other authorities concerned among the documents needed to complete the admission.

    Sources: 1, 4

    3Your steps

    · Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.

    If something goes wrong
    1. Do this now

      Once a year, the School Education Department's website puts out the "RTE-12(1)C" notification.

      For 2026-27 it came out on 03.02.2026, and applications were taken from 20.02.2026 to 10.03.2026. The 2026-27 admissions are over (the second-round lottery results are out). Watch this website for the 2027-28 notification.

      Where
      Online
      Open the official page
      Not confirmed

      On 2 November 2026 the 2027-28 notification was not out; that year's dates are not known yet.

      Sources: 1, 3, 6

    2. Do this now

      Check that the child's age fits.

      For 2026-27 the child had to have completed 5 years: born between 2 June 2020 and 31 May 2021 for State syllabus schools, and between 2 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 for CBSE/ICSE/IB schools. Private unaided schools of every syllabus (State, CBSE, ICSE, IB) must give these seats.

      Where
      You do this yourself
      Not confirmed

      The age dates are from the Telugu pamphlet (read by OCR); the English notification does not give them. For 2027-28 we expect them to move on by a year, but check the new notification.

      Sources: 3, 1, 2

    3. Do this now

      During the application window, register on cse.ap.gov.in with the Aadhaar of the child, a parent or the guardian, and give the basic details and documents.

      Choose several schools you want, in order of preference. You can do it yourself, or with help from the head master or principal of the school concerned, the Mandal Educational Officer (MEO) office, a village or ward secretariat, or a MeeSeva centre. You can change the choice of schools until the last date; once the application is submitted it cannot be edited, so fill it in carefully. Keep the receipt of submission.

      Where
      Online
      Fee
      The notification mentions no application fee. The State SOP says help at the secretariats and help desks is free.
      Open the official page

      Sources: 1, 2, 3

    4. Do this now

      If there are more applications than seats, a lottery is held: first those living within 1 km of the school, then within 3 km and 5 km; children with a brother or sister in the same school come first.

      A school with fewer applications than seats has no lottery. If your child is selected you get an SMS; the results are on the website and the school notice board, and the school should also phone you.

      Where
      Online
      Open the official page

      Sources: 1, 2, 3

    5. Do this now

      If you get a seat, go to that school with your documents (such as caste, income, birth and address proofs) and complete the admission within the dates set for schools to confirm admissions (in 2026-27: 26.03.2026–07.04.2026 for the first round, 13.04.2026–23.04.2026 for the second).

      If the school cannot reach you for seven days, the matter may be referred to the District Admission Monitoring Committee (DAMC), and after its decision the seat may go to a child on the waiting list.

      Where
      The school that gave the seat
      Fee
      Free
      Time limit
      If the school cannot reach you for seven days, the matter may be referred to the DAMC.

      Sources: 1, 2

    6. Do this now

      In this seat schooling is free from Class 1 to Class 8.

      Textbooks and uniforms must be given at least 15 days before classes begin, and these children must not be put in separate sections. If you gave an AAY card or rice card as proof of income, that proof has to be given again every year. Under Thalliki Vandanam (2026-27), for a child in this seat the money up to the fee fixed by the Government goes to the school through Samagra Shiksha; any balance goes to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-linked bank account: mainly the mother's, the father's if he is a single parent, or the guardian's. For an orphan the money goes through the District Collector.

      Where
      You do this yourself

      Sources: 2, 1, 9, 8

    If something goes wrong

    If it is rejectedWithin 7 days of the display of the list of selected children you can complain to the District Admission Monitoring Committee (DAMC, chaired by the District Educational Officer); you can also file it on the RTE grievance portal.

    Within 7 days of the display of the list of selected children you can complain to the District Admission Monitoring Committee (DAMC, chaired by the District Educational Officer); you can also file it on the RTE grievance portal. If you disagree with the DAMC's decision, you can appeal to the Andhra Pradesh School Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (APSERMC) within three months of its order; the Commission must decide within three months.

    RTE grievance portal (School Education Department) · Open the official page

    18004258599

    Sources: 1, 5, 7

    If it is lateIf the school does not admit your child after a seat is allotted, or does not give the books and uniform, complain on the RTE grievance portal or to the toll-free line 1800-425-8599.

    If the school does not admit your child after a seat is allotted, or does not give the books and uniform, complain on the RTE grievance portal or to the toll-free line 1800-425-8599. The SOP says the DAMC decides such disputes within three days. The notification says a grievance to the DAMC is to be filed within 7 days of the list of selected children being displayed, so do not wait. If you disagree with the DAMC, the documents differ: the SOP and the DAMC order name the District Collector as the final appellate authority, while the notification says to appeal to the Andhra Pradesh School Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (APSERMC) within three months. Ask on the helpline which applies to you.

    RTE grievance portal and toll-free helpline · Open the official page

    18004258599

    Sources: 2, 7, 1, 5

    If you are asked for more moneyThis seat is free.

    This seat is free. No school or person may take a capitation fee (donation) for admission or put the child or parents through an interview or test (screening); taking one can bring a fine of up to ten times the fee (section 13 of the Act). If anyone asks for money, complain on the RTE grievance portal, or through PGRS (a village or ward secretariat, the portal or the app; 1100 is for emergency issues). The department's Telugu instruction sheet for 2026-27 says that if the school's management presses you to pay fees, you should contact the Mandal Educational Officer (MEO), the District Educational Officer (DEO), the District Admission Monitoring Committee (DAMC) or the District Collector, or you can call the toll-free line 1800-425-8599.

    Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) · Open the official page

    Sources: 8, 7, 10, 4

    Official websites for this work

    All official websites →
    Find the office in your district →

    Related guides

    Report a mistake on this page
    The 10 official pages and papers this guide is written from
    1. Notification No. SS-18021/14/2025-RTE-SSA: admissions to Class I in private unaided schools under section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009, for 2026-27 (online application)Samagra Shiksha, School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, In the zip 'RTE 12-1(C)-Notifications(2026-27)' on the RTE-12(1)C-2026-27 Notifications page: paras 2(i) (apply online yourself or with the help of the school head, MEO or village/ward secretariat; several schools in order of priority), 2(ii) (lottery, 1 km then up to 5 km, siblings), the reservation table (5% orphans, HIV-affected, disabled; 10% SC; 4% ST; 6% BC, minorities, OC with income up to Rs.1,20,000 rural / Rs.1,44,000 urban) and notes 1–3, the time schedule, para 2 (procedure; online applications), para 3 (residence proofs a–m; other documents n–r), 'Appeal' a–d, the note that an application cannot be edited after submission (03-02-2026) · read on 02-11-2026
    2. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementation of section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009, for the academic year 2026-2027 (Rc. No. 18021/14/2025-RTE-SSA)Samagra Shiksha, School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, In the same zip: B.I.3 (Aadhaar-based central portal cse.ap.gov.in), B.I.6 (a), (b) (for a child with a disability the SADAREM certificate is uploaded; for a child affected by HIV, a medical certificate issued by the DMHO), B.I.7 (DAMC: disputes decided within three days), B.II.1 (help desks free of charge; help from the head master, MEO, village/ward secretariat free of cost; receipt of submission), B.II.2–5 (selection, lottery dates announced, results by letter, notice board, e-mail/SMS and phone call; school choices can be changed until the last date), B.III.1 (school confirms admission; parents not traceable for seven days: referred to the DAMC; District Collector the final appellate authority), B.III.2 (textbooks and uniform at least 15 days before classes; no separate sections), toll-free helpline 18004258599 (15-02-2026) · read on 02-11-2026
    3. RTE section 12(1)(c): free admissions in Class 1 for 2026-27 (revised dates pamphlet, in Telugu)Samagra Shiksha, Government of Andhra Pradesh, In the same zip ('V01 5 2 26 RTE Date Revised Phamplet'); a Telugu PDF read by OCR: who is eligible and the age (born 2 June 2020 to 31 May 2021 for State syllabus schools, 2 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 for CBSE/ICSE/IB schools, five years completed), documents, apply 20-02-2026 to 10-03-2026 on www.cse.ap.gov.in or at a school, secretariat, MEO office or MeeSeva centre, results by SMS, toll free 18004258599 · read on 02-11-2026
    4. RTE section 12(1)(c): admissions to Class 1 for 2026-27, instructions for village and ward secretariat staff and for parents, with frequently asked questions (in Telugu)Samagra Shiksha, School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, In the same zip ('11 49 am 5 2 26 …', a Telugu PDF whose text layer has a broken font, read by eye): the other documents needed to complete the admission (birth certificate, compulsory; disability certificate; HIV/AIDS medical certificate; self-declaration, CWC or MRO certificate; annual income certificate and caste certificate, each issued by the Revenue or other authority concerned); the questions on what to carry to the school (caste, income, birth and address proofs) and on what to do when the management presses for fees (contact the MEO, DEO, DAMC, District Collector or State office, or the toll-free number) · read on 11-11-2026
    5. Constitution of District Admission Monitoring Committee (DAMC) for RTE 12(1)(c), 2026-27Samagra Shiksha, School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, In the same zip ('DAMC 2026-27'): the committee under the chairmanship of the District Educational Officer (G.O.Ms.No.129, School Education (Prog.II), 15.07.2022, II(b)(viii)) · read on 02-11-2026
    6. School Education Department home page (cse.ap.gov.in)Department of School Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Header link 'RTE-12(1)C-2026-27'; 'Important Links': 'RTE-12(1)C Admissions', 'RTE-Grievance'; flash news: 'RTE 2nd round of lottery Results' · read on 02-11-2026
    7. RTE Grievance Redressal PortalDepartment of School Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Page text: file, track and resolve admission or facility-related issues under the RTE Act; 'Section 12(1)(c) Guard'; toll free helpline 1800-425-8599; log in or sign up as parent, student or guardian, or through MeeSeva · read on 02-11-2026
    8. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (No. 35 of 2009), Gazette of IndiaMinistry of Law and Justice, Government of India (copy on the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights website), Sections 12(1)(a) and (c), 13 (no capitation fee or screening; fines), 32 (written complaint to the local authority, decided within three months; appeal); a scanned copy read by OCR (27-08-2009) · read on 02-11-2026
    9. G.O.Ms.No.15: Thalliki Vandanam, implementation for the academic year 2026-27, guidelinesSchool Education (Ser.I) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, 'Disbursement Process' (c) and 'Mode of Payment' (f): for children admitted under section 12(1)(c), the assistance up to the fee fixed by the Government is paid to the school through the State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha; any balance to the mother's account (16-07-2026) · read on 02-11-2026
    10. PGRS: FAQ'sPublic Grievance Redressal System (PGRS), Government of Andhra Pradesh (Real Time Governance Society), Who can register and how (village/ward secretariat every day, Collectorate on Monday, portal, app; 1100 for emergency issues); status by SMS; re-opening twice; ACB helpline for corruption or bribes · read on 02-11-2026