India, July 19 -- The Delhi government has replaced essentiality certification with self-certification and relaxed minimum land requirement norms for opening a private school to streamline the administrative process and allow more schools in residential or high-cluster areas, education minister Ashish Sood announced on Saturday.

"Previously, under Rule 50 (ii) of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSER),1973, the government had to assess the real need of an area by counting existing schools before granting recognition. This restriction has been removed," read a statement issued by the minister's office.

"The minimum land area requirement previously mandated for the registration and setting up of private schools has been relaxed, ...