The KG names, explained

Junior KG, Senior KG, LKG, UKG, Lower KG, Upper KG: what the names mean, and the order.

Different cities and boards use different names for the same two kindergarten years. LKG is Lower Kindergarten and UKG is Upper Kindergarten; at NAS, and across most Mumbai schools, we call them Junior KG and Senior KG. You will also see them written as Lower KG and Upper KG. Here is the sequence, the usual ages, and what each year is for.

Ask NAS Parent hub

LKG = Junior KG = Lower KG UKG = Senior KG = Upper KG Mother-Toddler first Then Class 1

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Illustrative image

What the research says only matters if you can see it in the room.

Junior KG, Senior KG, LKG, UKG

Plain Answer

What you will want to know.

LKG · Lower Kindergarten

The first kindergarten year. Junior KG at NAS and in most Mumbai schools, Lower KG or Jr. KG on some forms, and KG-1 in some schools.

UKG · Upper Kindergarten

The second kindergarten year, the one before Class 1. Senior KG at NAS and in most Mumbai schools, Upper KG or Sr. KG on some forms, and KG-2 in some schools.

Ages are bands, not rules

Schools set their own cut-offs. At NAS: Mother-Toddler from 9 months, Playgroup 1.5–2.5, Nursery 2.5–3.5, Junior KG 3.5–4.5, Senior KG 4.5–5.5. The office confirms fit for a date of birth.

Make It Visible

What you would see in the classroom.

Less theory, more of what you can actually notice on a visit or at home.

The order

Mother-Toddler first, then Playgroup, then Nursery, then Junior KG (LKG), then Senior KG (UKG), then Class 1.

At NAS

Mother-Toddler from 9 months, Playgroup 1.5–2.5, Nursery 2.5–3.5, Junior KG 3.5–4.5, Senior KG 4.5–5.5. The office confirms the fit for your child’s date of birth.

On forms

Junior KG, Jr. KG and LKG are the same box; Senior KG, Sr. KG and UKG are the same box. Read the age band, not the label.

Ask for the age band, not the name.

Two schools can use the same label for different ages.

Count back from Class 1.

Senior KG is the year before Class 1; Junior KG the year before that.

Mother-Toddler and Playgroup are optional.

Many families begin at Nursery; the office will say what fits.

Parent FAQ

Answers you can come back to.

The questions parents ask us most, answered the way we would at the gate.

LKG is Lower Kindergarten and UKG is Upper Kindergarten. NAS calls these years Junior KG and Senior KG; the same years are also written as Lower KG (LKG) and Upper KG (UKG).

Yes. Junior KG, LKG and Lower KG (Lower Kindergarten) are names for the same year, the first of the two kindergarten years. At NAS it is for children of about 3.5 to 4.5 years.

Yes. Senior KG, UKG and Upper KG (Upper Kindergarten) are names for the same year, the second of the two kindergarten years. At NAS it is for children of about 4.5 to 5.5 years.

Mother-Toddler comes first (from 9 months, with a parent alongside), then Playgroup, then Nursery, then Junior KG (LKG, also called Lower KG), then Senior KG (UKG, also called Upper KG). After Senior KG a child moves to Class 1.

Age bands differ by school. At New Activity School, Junior KG (LKG) is for about 3.5 to 4.5 years and Senior KG (UKG) for about 4.5 to 5.5 years; the office confirms the fit for a child’s date of birth.