The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) across 17 states and Union Territories (UTs). The decision, made on Wednesday, is primarily aimed at catering to the educational requirements of the children of central government employees.
India to get 57 Kendriya Vidyalayas
A significant portion of the new schools, 19, which constitutes one-third of the total, have been sanctioned for Bihar. Furthermore, four KVs each will be opened in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with the remaining schools distributed across states including Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana, and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, among others.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan commented on the expansion via a post on X, stating, “Covering 17 states and UTs, these 57 new KVs will expand the reach of quality and affordable education in aspirational, underserved, Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) and hilly areas and fulfil educational requirements of a vast population.”
These 57 KVs, falling under the civil sector, will also integrate Balvatikas to admit children at the foundational pre-primary stage, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Of the total, 50 schools will be sponsored by state governments and UT administrations, while the remaining seven will be sponsored by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The establishment of the new KVs is projected to incur a total expenditure of approximately ₹5,862.55 crore over nine years starting from 2026–27. This includes ₹2,585.52 crore for capital expenses and ₹3,277.03 crore for operational costs, as detailed in a statement from the Union Ministry of Education (MoE).
PM Modi takes to X
Prime Minister Modi also took to X to highlight the approval, saying, “The establishment of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas has been approved by the Cabinet. It is gladdening that KVs will include Balvatikas, nurturing children from the foundational stage. Several students will benefit, alongside the creation of many jobs. This is in line with our commitment to inclusive growth, particularly in aspirational districts, the Northeast and other remote areas.”
KVs are central government schools managed by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), an autonomous body under the MoE, which works to ensure uniform quality education nationwide. Currently, the KVS system operates 1,288 KVs, including three located internationally in Moscow, Kathmandu, and Tehran, serving an enrolment of 13.62 lakh students.
The MoE estimates that the new KVs (from Balvatika to Class 12) will benefit an additional 86,640 students and generate 4,617 permanent teaching jobs. This latest approval follows a December 2024 CCEA decision sanctioning 85 KVs. The ministry emphasized that the combined sanctioning of 142 schools addresses rising demand and ensures pan-India expansion, with priority given to regions not covered since March 2019.
