Cabinet Approves Establishment of 85 New Kendriya Vidyalayas Including One In Pune District
New Delhi/Pune, 7th December 2024: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of 85 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) across India under the Civil and Defence sectors. Additionally, an expansion plan has been sanctioned for KV Shivamogga in Karnataka to accommodate the growing number of Central Government employees. The expansion will include adding two new sections to all classes in the school under the Kendriya Vidyalaya Scheme.
The total estimated cost for implementing the project is ₹5,872.08 crore, spread over eight years starting from the 2025-26 fiscal year. The expenditure includes ₹2,862.71 crore for capital investment and ₹3,009.37 crore for operational costs.
Currently, there are 1,256 operational Kendriya Vidyalayas, including three international branches in Moscow, Kathmandu, and Tehran, collectively serving approximately 13.56 lakh students. The newly approved KVs are expected to provide education to an additional 82,560 students.
As per the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) norms, each full-fledged KV can accommodate around 960 students and employs 63 staff members. Consequently, the new KVs, along with the expansion at Shivamogga, will create 5,388 permanent jobs. Moreover, construction and related activities will generate additional employment for skilled and unskilled workers.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya Scheme was introduced in November 1962 to offer uniform and high-quality education for the children of Central Government employees, including those in Defence and Paramilitary forces. Initially, the program began with the conversion of 20 regimental schools in Defence stations into Central Schools in the 1963-64 academic year.
The primary objective of KVs is to meet the educational needs of children whose parents are in transferable or non-transferable jobs, as well as those from remote or underdeveloped areas. These schools have consistently earned a reputation for excellence due to their innovative teaching methods, updated infrastructure, and exceptional student performance in CBSE board examinations.
In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, most Kendriya Vidyalayas have been designated as PM Shri Schools. These schools serve as models for implementing NEP initiatives and aim to inspire other institutions to follow suit.
With increasing demand for admissions to Class I every year, this expansion reflects the government’s commitment to providing equitable and quality education across the country.
