Starting a day care centre in Delhi requires careful planning, safe and suitable premises, trained caregivers and compliance with the requirements applicable to child care and business operations.
The exact and accurate requirements can differ depending on whether you plan to operate a standalone day care centre, crèche, preschool-cum-daycare or an employer-supported child-care facility. The age of children, number of children, food services, premises and additional activities can also affect the applicable requirements.
At Remind Legal LLP, we assist businesses with registrations, documentation and regulatory compliance required for setting up a day care centre in Delhi.
Planning to start a day care centre in Delhi? Get professional assistance with the applicable registrations and compliance requirements.
A day care centre is responsible for the care and supervision of young children, making safety, hygiene, staffing and emergency preparedness particularly important.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued National Minimum Standards and Protocol for Creches, covering areas relevant to the safe operation and management of crèche facilities. The Ministry confirmed in August 2026 that these standards were issued in 2024 for setting up crèches.
Understanding the applicable requirements before starting operations can help establish a safer and better-managed child-care facility.
Step 1: Choose Business Structure
The first step is to choose an appropriate legal structure for the day care business.
Common options include: -
The appropriate and suitable structure depends on factors such as ownership, liability, investment, taxation and future expansion plans.
Step 2: Complete PAN, TAN & Basic Business Registration
Obtain PAN for the proprietor or business entity, as applicable, for the taxation and business-related transactions.
If you establish an LLP or company, complete the applicable incorporation process and obtain the relevant incorporation documents.
TAN, Where Applicable
TAN is not required simply because you operate a day care centre. It becomes applicable where the business is required to deduct or collect tax at source (TDS/TCS) under the applicable tax provisions.
Step 3: Select a Suitable Premises
Choose premises that are suitable for caring for children and compatible with the proposed business activity.
The premises should provide appropriate arrangements for: -
Applicable land-use, building and municipal requirements should be checked before finalising the premises.
Step 4: Obtain Crèche/Day-Care Centre Registration or Applicable Child-Care Approval
Depending on the nature, category and model of the centre, applicable registration, recognition or child-care approval requirements should be identified before commencing the operations.
There is no basis to assume that every standalone private day care centre in Delhi is subject to one universally named “Day Care Licence.” Therefore, the applicable position should be assessed according to the centre's activities and the regulatory category.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued National Minimum Standards and Protocol for Creches and Delhi's Women and Child Development Department administers child-care and welfare programmes in the NCT.
This approach allows the centre to identify any applicable child-care approval without incorrectly treating one registration as universally mandatory.
Step 5: Obtain MCD Health Trade Licence / Municipal Permission, Where Applicable
Applicable MCD or other municipal permissions should be assessed based on the nature of the establishment, premises and activities.
MCD issues Health Trade Licences to trades covered under its Public Health Department's licensing policy pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act.
However, a Health Trade Licence should not automatically be treated as mandatory for every standalone day care centre. Its applicability should be checked according to the specific trade/activity and premises.
Step 6: Complete Fire Safety Compliance, Where Applicable
A day care centre should maintain appropriate fire and emergency-safety arrangements.
Depending on the building, occupancy, height, premises and applicable Delhi Fire Service requirements, a Fire Safety Certificate/NOC may be required.
Even where a separate certificate is not required, basic precautions such as unobstructed exits, functional firefighting equipment and an emergency evacuation arrangement are important for premises occupied by children.
Delhi Fire Service certificates also require means of escape to remain unobstructed and fire-safety equipment to be maintained in working condition.
Step 7: Comply with Building, Zoning & Premises Requirements
Before opening the day care centre, verify that the premises can be used for the intended activity under the applicable building, land-use and municipal framework.
Do not assume that every residential or commercial property can automatically be converted into a day care facility.
Any building-use, structural, occupancy or other premises requirements should be checked before making significant investments in interiors or equipment.
Step 8: Follow Child-Care Standards, Staffing & Safety Requirements
Child safety should be a central part of day care operations.
The National Minimum Standards and Protocol for Creches provide an important framework for establishing and operating crèche facilities. The Government's current child-care framework also recognises day-care facilities for young children under the Palna scheme.
The centre should maintain appropriate arrangements for: -
The exact staffing and operational requirements should be assessed according to the age and number of children and the applicable child-care framework.
Step 9: Complete Staff Background Verification, Where Applicable
Since employees and caregivers work directly with children, appropriate identity and background verification should form part of the centre's safeguarding process.
The centre should maintain proper records of caregivers, attendants, housekeeping personnel, drivers and other employees who regularly interact with children.
Where police verification or another specific verification procedure is required under the applicable rules, approval conditions or contractual framework, it should be completed accordingly.
Step 10: Obtain FSSAI Registration/Licence, Where Applicable
If the day care centre prepares, handles or provides food as a food business activity, the applicability of FSSAI registration/licensing should be assessed.
The requirement depends on the nature and scale of the food activity.
Food served to young children should also be prepared, stored and handled hygienically, with particular attention to food safety and age-appropriate nutrition.
Step 11: GST Registration, Where Applicable
GST Registration should be obtained where required under the applicable GST provisions.
The requirement depends on factors such as the nature of services, turnover and other applicable provisions.
The GST position should therefore be assessed according to the actual services offered by the centre rather than assuming that every day care centre automatically requires registration.
Step 12: Labour Compliance, Where Applicable
If the day care centre employs caregivers, teachers, administrative staff, attendants, housekeeping personnel or other employees, applicable labour requirements should be followed.
Depending on the establishment and workforce, these can include requirements relating to: -
Step 13: EPF & ESI, Where Applicable
EPF and ESI requirements depend on employee strength, establishment coverage and other applicable statutory conditions.
They are therefore where-applicable requirements and are not mandatory merely because you operate a day care centre.
Step 14: DPCC Compliance, Where Applicable
DPCC compliance should be assessed where the premises or activities fall within the applicable environmental regulatory framework.
A standard day care centre should not automatically be treated like a manufacturing or pollution-generating establishment.
Therefore, DPCC compliance should remain a where-applicable requirement rather than being presented as a mandatory environmental licence for every day care business.
Step 15: Udyam Registration – Recommended for Eligible MSMEs
If the day care business qualifies as a Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise, it can consider Udyam Registration.
Udyam Registration is not mandatory merely because you operate a day care centre. However, eligible MSMEs may consider registration for applicable benefits and schemes.
Step 16: Trademark Registration – Optional but Advisable
Trademark Registration is optional but it is strongly advisable if the day care centre operates under its own distinctive or unique brand name or logo.
Registering the trademark can help to protect the centre's brand identity and minimize the risk of another business using a similar mark for the related services.
Additional requirements may arise depending on the services provided by the centre.
For example, a preschool-cum-daycare may need to assess additional educational requirements, while a centre preparing or supplying food should assess applicable FSSAI requirements.
Similarly, if the centre provides its own pick-up and drop-off service, applicable vehicle, driver and child-transport safety requirements should be considered.
These requirements should be assessed according to the actual business model rather than treated as mandatory for every day care centre.
Documents Required
The exact documents depend on the business structure, premises and applicable approvals.
Basic Documents
Business Registration Documents
Premises & Day Care Documents
Other Documents
Depending on the business model, additional documents may include: -
A properly established day care centre can help entrepreneurs: -
Estimated Timeline
The overall timeline depends on the type of registrations required, completeness of documentation and processing time taken by the respective government authorities.
Since different approvals may involve separate departments, the time required may vary depending on the premises, nature, scale and services of your day care centre.
Government Fees
Government fees vary depending on the applicable registration, licence category and regulations applicable at the time of application.
Professional fees depend on the scope of services required and the specific compliance requirements of your day care centre.
Starting a day care centre involves more than choosing a premises and hiring caregivers. The business should assess applicable child-care, municipal, premises, fire-safety, food, tax and employment requirements.
Remind Legal LLP can assist businesses with identifying applicable registrations, preparing documentation and completing the required compliance process for setting up a day care centre in Delhi.
Our Services Include: -
Planning to start a day care centre in Delhi? Get professional assistance with the applicable registrations and compliance requirements.