New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) under the civil sector to cater to the growing educational needs of children of Central Government employees.
The project is estimated to require Rs 5,862.55 crore over nine years, from 2026-27, comprising capital expenditure of Rs 2,585.52 crore and operational expenditure of Rs 3,277.03 crore.
For the first time, these schools will feature Balvatikas, a three-year foundational stage (pre-primary) education, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, making them exemplar schools under the new framework.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya system, initiated in 1962, has grown to 1,288 functional schools, including three overseas in Moscow, Kathmandu and Tehran, serving about 13.62 lakh students. Opening new schools is an ongoing process, with proposals sponsored by Central Ministries, State/UT governments and other authorities.
Of the 57 newly approved KVs, seven are backed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and 50 by State/UT authorities. The new institutions will extend coverage to 17 states and union territories, with 20 schools located in districts lacking a KV despite significant demand, 14 in aspirational districts, four in Left Wing Extremism-affected districts, and five in the North-East and hilly regions. This approval follows the sanctioning of 85 KVs in December 2024.
Each new KV, designed for around 1,520 students, will employ 81 staff members. Overall, 46,617 permanent jobs will be created, apart from opportunities generated through construction and infrastructure development.
As model schools, KVs continue to set benchmarks for quality education, with students consistently performing among the best in CBSE examinations.
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