# How RTE 25% free seats in private schools work, state by state

Under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act, private unaided schools keep 25% of their entry-class seats for children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups, free of fees. Admission is through the state's process, usually an online form and a lottery. Shishya's free guide at shishya.in/schools/rte-25-percent explains it for all 36 states and union territories and links the official portal where it has verified one.

For: Parents who want a free seat for their child in a private school.

## Steps

1. **Open the RTE guide** — Go to the RTE 25% guide. (https://shishya.in/schools/rte-25-percent)
2. **Find your state** — Each state or union territory has its own section: who can apply and how.
3. **Check eligibility** — Read who counts as weaker section or disadvantaged in your state, and the documents it asks for.
4. **Use the official portal** — Apply on the state's portal where the guide links it; otherwise contact your state education department, as the guide says.
5. **Check the class-entry age** — Use the age calculator so you apply for the right class. (https://shishya.in/schools/age-calculator)

## Tips

- Application windows are short and set by each state every year; watch the state portal.
- Find nearby schools in the school directory before the lottery opens.

## When Shishya is not the right tool

Shishya does not take RTE applications or run the lottery. It explains the rules and links the official portal.

## Questions

**Is the guide free?** Yes, and it needs no sign-in.

**Does Shishya apply for me?** No. Applications go through your state's official process.

Free tool: Open the RTE 25% guide — https://shishya.in/schools/rte-25-percent

Last updated 2026-11-01 · by Venu Gopal Reddy Muvva, founder