Cabinet meeting was held today, October 1, under the chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi. Several important decisions were taken in this meeting. The most prominent decision included the approval to open 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) across the country. Union Education Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that seven of these 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas will be sponsored by the Union Home Ministry, while the rest will be established by state governments. This initiative will help provide access to quality education to over 86,000 students, especially in districts that currently do not have Kendriya Vidyalayas.
Features of New KVs and Balvatika under NEP 2020
These 57 Kendriya Vidyalayas have been approved as Exemplary Schools for the first time under NEP 2020. Balvatika will also be established in these schools, which will be a part of the three-year pre-primary education. The objective of Balvatika is to develop the learning and thinking abilities of children through early childhood education. The Kendriya Vidyalaya Scheme was started in November 1962 to provide equitable and quality education to the children of Central Government employees and their families.
Total Expenditure and Financial Plan
The estimated cost of construction and operation of these 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas will be ₹5,862.55 crore, which will be spent over nine years till 2026-27. This includes Capital Expenditure of ₹2,585.52 crore and Operating Expenditure of ₹3,277.03 crore. Through this investment, the government aims to bring quality education to remote and backward areas. Currently, a total of 1,288 Kendriya Vidyalayas are operational in India and the new schools will further increase this number.
19 New Kendriya Vidyalayas in Bihar
Of these 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas, 19 will be established in the state of Bihar. Several districts have been specifically selected, including Sitamarhi, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Madhubani, Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya. For example, new schools will be established in ITBP Katihar, Jamuara and Katnikol (Sheikhpura), Dhanbanga (AIIMS), and Bihar Sharif (Nalanda). This initiative will not only benefit the children of central government employees but will also increase quality education opportunities for local children. This government step will prove to be important in improving the level of education in backward states like Bihar.
