Chandigarh, April 17 -- After months of delay, the Punjab government on Thursday finally invited applications from parents and guardians of children belonging to economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups for admission to private unaided schools under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

The school education department has invited online applications for the 2026-27 academic session under Section 12(1)(c) of the Act. The law mandates that private schools not receiving government aid reserve at least 25% of seats in entry-level classes (ranging from nursery to Class 1) for children from weaker and disadvantaged sections.

The admission portal - https://rte.epunjabschool.gov.in - went live on A...