PM Modi Emphasizes Government's Dedication to Quality Education for All

New Delhi, Dec 7 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reiterated the Centre's commitment to delivering high-quality school education to all segments of society, in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP).

On Friday, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by PM Modi, sanctioned the creation of 85 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and 28 Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) in previously underserved districts, as part of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme.

Through a post on X, PM Modi shared, "Our government has made another significant move to enhance the accessibility of school education. This initiative will see 85 new Kendriya Vidyalayas established nationwide. This will not only benefit a large number of students but will also generate numerous new employment opportunities."

In another update, he mentioned, "We are dedicated to ensuring that school education reaches every segment of society, following the National Education Policy. Accordingly, our government has approved 28 new Navodaya Vidyalayas nationwide. This will considerably widen the reach of residential and quality education."

The projected financial outlay for setting up the 85 KVs, along with the expansion of an existing KV, is estimated at Rs 5,872.08 crore over an eight-year period from 2025 to 2026. This includes Rs 2,862.71 crore for capital investment and Rs 3,009.37 crore for operational expenses.

Currently, there are 1,256 operational Kendriya Vidyalayas, including three abroad (in Moscow, Kathmandu, and Tehran), serving approximately 13.56 lakh students. The addition of 85 new KVs is expected to benefit around 82,560 additional students.

In line with the NEP 2020, a majority of the Kendriya Vidyalayas have been designated as PM Shri Schools, acting as model institutions for the policy's execution.

The Ministry of Education has pointed out the growing demand for KV admissions each year and acknowledged the consistent high performance of KV students in CBSE Board exams, surpassing other educational frameworks.

For the establishment of the 28 NVs, the government has allocated Rs 2,359.82 crore over five years (2024-25 to 2028-29), with Rs 1,944.19 crore set aside for capital investment and Rs 415.63 crore for operational costs.

The NVs are fully residential, co-educational institutions that provide top-notch modern education for students from Class VI to XII, specifically targeting talented children, primarily from rural backgrounds, regardless of their family's financial situation. Admissions are contingent upon a Selection Test, with about 49,640 students enrolling in Class VI each year.

Currently, there are a total of 661 sanctioned NVs across the nation, including 2nd NVs in 20 districts with a high density of SC/ST populations and three special NVs. Of these, 653 NVs are operational.