CM Bhupendra Patel Launches 24th Shala Praveshotsav from Vadnagar
Synopsis
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the 24th edition of Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav from PM Modi's birthplace Vadnagar on 23 June 2026. The three-day statewide drive sends ministers to schools across Gujarat with a declared goal of reducing the dropout rate to zero.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the 24th Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav on 23 June 2026 .
The launch venue was B.N.
High School, Vadnagar — PM Narendra Modi 's birthplace and the symbolic home of the initiative he founded in 2002-03 .
The festival is a three-day statewide drive during which ministers and senior officials visit schools to enrol children and review facilities.
The programme includes Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav , which specifically targets enrolment of girl students .
The Gujarat government claims the state's school dropout rate has fallen to below 1 per cent , with a stated target of reaching zero .
The drive is framed under the vision of 'Shikshit Gujarat, Viksit Gujarat' — linking education with the state's broader development goals.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 announced the launch of the 24th edition of Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav from the historic B.N. High School in Vadnagar, the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who originally founded the initiative during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister.
Context
Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav together form what CM Patel described as an 'shikshan sevayagya' (an unbroken yagna of educational service) that has run continuously for 24 years. The twin festivals were conceived as a high-visibility, government-led push to enrol children — especially girls — at the start of each academic year. Choosing Vadnagar's B.N. High School as the launch venue this year carries symbolic weight, linking the programme's origins under Modi to its present iteration under Patel.
Policy Backdrop
The initiative was launched in 2002-03 by Narendra Modi when he served as Gujarat Chief Minister, with the explicit aim of boosting primary school enrolment and reducing the dropout rate across the state. Over two decades, it has evolved into a three-day statewide exercise during which ministers and senior officials personally visit schools in every corner of Gujarat, enrol children, and review educational infrastructure. CM Patel stated that the government's sustained efforts have brought the state's dropout rate to below 1 per cent, and that the next target is to bring it to zero.
Stakeholders and Impact
The programme's primary beneficiaries are school-going children, with a particular emphasis on girl students through the Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav component. Rural families in remote corners of the state receive direct attention from senior government functionaries during the three-day drive, a feature that distinguishes Gujarat's model from routine enrolment exercises. CM Patel framed the effort as part of a broader vision he called 'Shikshit Gujarat, Viksit Gujarat' — 'Educated Gujarat, Developed Gujarat' — linking schooling with nutrition and character formation for children.
What's Next
Over the course of the three-day festival, state ministers and high-ranking officials will fan out to schools across Gujarat to conduct in-person enrolments and assess facility standards for the 2026-27 academic year. The government's declared goal of a zero dropout rate will be the key metric to watch as progress reports emerge from this year's drive. Any new schemes or infrastructure announcements made during the festival will signal the state's education priorities for the year ahead.
Point of View
CM Patel is staking a measurable governance claim that will be scrutinised as independent data emerges. The longevity of the festival — now in its third decade — reflects a Gujarat BJP strategy of institutionalising flagship schemes so they outlast individual leaders and become part of state identity. Whether the zero-dropout ambition translates into verifiable outcomes will determine how this edition is remembered beyond its ceremonial optics.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shala Praveshotsav in Gujarat?
Shala Praveshotsav is an annual three-day school enrolment festival launched in Gujarat in 2002-03 by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. It involves ministers and senior officials visiting schools across the state to enrol children and review educational infrastructure at the start of the academic year.
What is Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav?
Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav is a companion festival to Shala Praveshotsav that focuses specifically on the enrolment and education of girl children. Both festivals run together as a combined three-day statewide drive in Gujarat.
Where was the 24th Shala Praveshotsav launched?
The 24th edition was launched from B.N. High School in Vadnagar, Gujarat — the historic school in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthplace, chosen as a symbolic venue for the 2026 edition.
What is Gujarat's school dropout rate?
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel stated that the state's school dropout rate has fallen to below 1 per cent due to sustained government efforts, and the declared target is to bring it down to zero.
Who started Shala Praveshotsav and when?
Shala Praveshotsav was started by Narendra Modi during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, with the programme beginning in 2002-03 to boost primary school enrolment across the state.
