764+ Best Class 1 Schools in Pune 2027-28

Class 1 is the most competitive admission level across all Indian cities. The age cutoff is 6 years completed by March 31, per the Right to Education Act. Demand at good CBSE and ICSE schools consistently outstrips supply — popular schools receive 10× more applications than seats available. Admissions typically open November–February. Under RTE Section 12(1)(c), 25% of Class 1 seats in unaided private schools must be reserved for disadvantaged groups — these seats are filled through a government lottery, separate from the school's own process. For the open-merit seats, many schools conduct a parent interaction rather than a child test (testing children below 6 is prohibited by the NCPCR). Fee transparency matters most at this level since parents will pay this school for the next 10–12 years.