Delhi admits 56,000 poor children to private schools, Telangana yet to roll out Sonia Gandhi’s RTE

More than 55,000 children from economically weaker and disadvantaged backgrounds have secured entry-level admissions in private unaided recognised schools in Delhi for the 2026–27 academic session, following a computerised draw of lots conducted by the Delhi Directorate of Education.

A total of 55,701 seats were offered this year, including 48,092 under the EWS and Disadvantaged Group categories and 7,609 under the Children With Special Needs category , an increase of 5,185 seats over last year . The number of participating schools rose to 2,308 , reflecting a steady expansion of the programme.

The admissions are part of the implementation of the Right to Education Act, which mandates 25 percent reservation in private unaided schools for children from economically weaker sections. The process, backed by digital verification and a transparent lottery system , has become an annual exercise in the capital.

In contrast, Congress ruled Telangana has yet to operationalise a similar state wide system under the same law. Despite the statutory mandate, admissions under the 25 percent quota remain largely unimplemented. In July 2025, the state issued guidelines suggesting that the provision would apply only in limited circumstances, effectively narrowing the reach of the central legislation.

The issue has drawn scrutiny from the Telangana High Court, which has observed that rights created by Parliament cannot be diluted through executive instructions and has sought clarity on the state’s compliance. A uniform admission mechanism, however, is yet to take shape.

The continued delay has been attributed to the Telangana Congress leadership , led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, acquiescing to the apparent private school management lobby, even as the party continues to publicly celebrate Sonia Gandhi for championing rights based legislation.

As Delhi expands access to private education for tens of thousands of disadvantaged children each year, the absence of a comparable system in Telangana highlights how Sonia Gandhi’s signature education reform continues to remain largely on paper in a state governed by her own party.