Section 2(d) & 2(e)

Who Qualifies for the 25% Quota?

Two categories qualify: Disadvantaged Groups and Weaker Sections. You need to satisfy only one. Read below to find out where you fit.

The Two Qualifying Categories

Disadvantaged Groups or Weaker Sections — One Is Enough

Category 1 — Section 2(d)

Disadvantaged Groups

Children belonging to SC, ST, OBC, children with disabilities, children of migrant workers, orphans, and other groups specified by the state as disadvantaged. Identity and group membership — not income — is the eligibility criterion here.

Key point: Income does not matter. An SC/ST child from an affluent family still qualifies.

Category 2 — Section 2(e)

Weaker Sections

Children whose parents or guardians have an annual income below the threshold fixed by the state government. The national guideline is ₹1 lakh per annum, but many states have set higher thresholds.

Key point: Group membership is not required. Any family below the income threshold qualifies.

Disadvantaged Groups — Section 2(d)

Who Falls in Disadvantaged Groups?

Each group recognised under Section 2(d) has its own proof requirement. Here is what you need to know for each category.

Any child belonging to a caste notified as Scheduled Caste in the relevant state under Article 341 of the Constitution.

Document Required

Caste certificate issued by a Revenue/Tehsildar officerSub-caste must match the official state SC notification

State note: The list of SCs varies by state. A caste that is SC in one state may not be SC in another. Use the state-specific SC list.

Any child belonging to a tribe or tribal community notified as Scheduled Tribe under Article 342 of the Constitution.

Document Required

ST certificate from competent authority (Tehsildar/District Collector)Tribal sub-plan area membership may be needed in some states

State note: Adivasi communities in certain states are listed as ST centrally; some communities are recognized only within specific districts.

Groups (other than SC/ST) designated as socially disadvantaged by the relevant state government under Section 2(d)(iii) of the RTE Act.

Document Required

Caste / community certificate from competent authorityState government notification for that communityOBC certificate (non-creamy layer, where applicable)

State note: Many states include OBCs, de-notified tribes, nomadic tribes, and other marginalized communities. For example, Maharashtra includes VJNT (Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes); Delhi includes OBCs; Karnataka includes OBCs and certain minority communities.

Children with disabilities as defined under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 (now Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016) are also covered under Section 2(d) in most state notifications.

Document Required

Disability certificate from a government hospital or designated authorityUDID (Unique Disability ID) card, where issued

State note: Most states explicitly include children with disabilities in the disadvantaged group category for RTE purposes.

Weaker Sections — Section 2(e)

Income Thresholds by State

National threshold: ₹3.5 lakh per annum

State	Annual Income Limit	Notes
Maharashtra		One of the lower thresholds; under review. Some districts apply ₹2 lakh in practice.
Delhi		Delhi still applies a relatively low threshold of ₹1 lakh; families above this may not qualify purely on income basis.
Karnataka		Revised in 2019; applies uniformly across the state for EWS category.
Tamil Nadu		State uses ₹2 lakh for EWS under RTE; separate BPL card holders automatically qualify.
Uttar Pradesh		UP uses ₹1 lakh; however BPL card holders are automatically treated as weaker section regardless of income.
Rajasthan		Rajasthan revised from ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh; BPL families auto-qualify.
Gujarat		Gujarat applies ₹1.5 lakh; pending revision. Families with Antyodaya/BPL cards automatically qualify.
West Bengal		West Bengal applies ₹2 lakh; WBCPCR has noted implementation gaps in private school compliance.

Common Misconceptions

Myths vs Reality

These misconceptions prevent many eligible families from applying.

✗

✓In states that have notified OBCs as a "socially disadvantaged group" under Section 2(d)(iii), OBC children qualify regardless of income. Only the income threshold applies to the "weaker section" (EWS) category under Section 2(e). These are two separate doors.

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✓The Supreme Court in Society for Un-Aided Private Schools of Rajasthan v. Union of India (2012) confirmed that linguistic and religious minority schools are exempt from Section 12(1)(c) with respect to their own minority community children. However, they must still reserve 25% for non-minority disadvantaged children if they admit non-minority students. Many states have extended the exemption broadly; parents should check state-specific rules.

✗

✓The quota applies to the entry-level class — Class 1, or pre-primary (nursery/KG) if the school offers it as an entry point. If a child missed the entry year, Section 4 of the RTE Act provides for age-appropriate admission and special training, but the formal 25% lottery process starts at the entry class.

✗

✓The free education guarantee under Section 12(1)(c) runs until the completion of elementary education (Class 8). After Class 8, the school is not obligated to continue free education under this section, though many states have policies for continuation. A new application/scholarship may be needed for Classes 9 onward.

Exclusions

Who Does Not Qualify?

Children from families that exceed the state's income threshold and do not belong to any notified disadvantaged group
Children who have already been admitted to Class 1 in a private school in a prior year (re-application is not permitted for the same child)
Children applying for classes above the entry-level class via the 25% quota channel (the quota is only for the entry class)
Children above the upper age limit for Class 1 entry (age 6 to 8 years typically) — though Section 4 covers age-appropriate admission separately
Children in states where unaided schools have been temporarily exempted by court stay orders in that particular state

Think You Qualify? Here Is How to Apply.

The application window opens in January–March. Missing it means waiting a full year.

See the Application Guide →

Need Help Determining Your Eligibility?

Mahadev Maitri Foundation provides free guidance to families navigating the RTE admission process.

Contact MMF ← Back to Quota Hub