In a major policy shift aimed at widening access to quality education, the Haryana government has significantly increased the annual family income limit for the Chief Minister Equal Education Relief, Assistance and Grant (CHEERAG) scheme. Under the new guidelines notified by the Directorate of Elementary Education, students from families with an annual income of up to ₹8 lakh are now eligible for free admission to recognized private schools. This is a substantial hike from the previous ceiling of ₹1.8 lakh, a move designed to bring lower-middle-class families within the ambit of the state-funded programme.
The Directorate has formally communicated the schedule for the 2026-27 academic session to all District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs). An official from the Education Department explained that the expanded eligibility criteria will allow a larger demographic of students, currently studying in government schools, to shift to private institutions free of cost. To avail of the scheme, possession of a Family Identity Card (PPP) is mandatory, and eligibility will be strictly determined based on a valid income certificate issued by the competent authority.
The admission process is set to commence shortly, with recognized private schools required to declare their available seats on the School Education Department’s official portal by February 15. Following this, the school-wise and class-wise seat availability will be publicly displayed by March 10. The application window for eligible students will open on March 13 and close on March 30. Officials have clarified that if the number of applicants exceeds the available seats in a particular school, admissions will be finalized through a transparent draw of lots, scheduled to take place between April 1 and April 5 in the presence of parents.
The final list of selected students will be displayed on April 15. To ensure that no seats go to waste, a second round of admissions for any remaining vacancies will be conducted from April 16 to April 30. The department has issued strict instructions to district officers to monitor the process closely. Nominated officers will be deputed to private schools during the admission days to ensure transparency and compliance with the government’s guidelines. Once the process is complete, schools must update the details of admitted students on the MIS portal.
