Cabinet approves setting up of 28 new Navodaya Vidyalayas in the uncovered districts of the country

PIB, Delhi, 06 DEC 2024 : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the setting up of 28 Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) in uncovered districts of the country under the Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme (Central Sector Scheme). 

Name of the District in which these 28 NV sanctioned are-

Arunachal Pradesh (8)- Upper Subansiri, Kradadi, Lepa Rada, Lower Siang, Lohit, Pakke-Kessang, Shi-Yomi, Siang

Assam (6)- Sonitpur, Charaideo, Hojai, Majuli, South Salmara Manacachar, West Karbianglong

Manipur (3)- Thoubal, Kangpoki, Noney

Karnataka (1)- Bellary

Maharashtra(1)- Thane

Telangana (7) - Jagityal, Nizamabad, Kothagudem Bhadradri, Medchal Malkajgiri, Mahabubnagar, Sangareddy, Suryapet

West Bengal (2)- Purba Bardhaman, Jhargram

The total estimated requirement of funds for the establishment of the 28 NVs is Rs. 2359.82 crore, spread over five years from 2024-25 to 2028-29. This includes a capital expenditure component of Rs. 1944.19 crore and an operational expenditure of Rs. 415.63 crore.

The administrative structure for implementing the project will require the creation of posts as per the norms fixed by the Samiti for running one fully-fledged NV with a capacity of 560 students. Hence, 560 x 28 = 15,680 students would benefit. As per the existing norms, a fully-fledged NV provides employment to 47 persons, and accordingly, the approved 28 Navodaya Vidyalayas will provide direct permanent employment to 1,316 individuals. Construction and allied activities for creating the school infrastructure are likely to generate employment opportunities for many skilled and unskilled workers. Due to its residential nature, each Navodaya Vidyalaya will generate opportunities for local vendors to supply essential commodities such as food, consumables, furniture, and teaching materials, as well as for local service providers such as barbers, tailors, cobblers, housekeeping and security manpower, etc.

The NVs are fully residential, co-educational schools providing good quality modern education from Class VI to XII to talented children, predominantly from rural areas, regardless of their family’s socio-economic condition. Admissions to these schools are based on a Selection Test. Approximately 49,640 students are admitted to NVs in Class VI every year.

As of now, there are 661 sanctioned NVs across the country (including second NVs in 20 districts with large concentrations of SC/ST populations and three special NVs). Out of these, 653 NVs are functional.

In pursuance of the National Education Policy 2020, almost all Navodaya Vidyalayas have been designated as PM Shri Schools, showcasing the implementation of NEP 2020 and acting as exemplar schools for others. The scheme is well-appreciated, and there has been a steady increase in the number of students applying for admission to Class VI in NVs every year. In recent years, Navodaya Vidyalayas have witnessed increasing enrollment of girls (42%), as well as SC (24%), ST (20%), and OBC (39%) children, thereby ensuring that quality education is accessible to all.

The performance of students in Navodaya Vidyalayas in board examinations conducted by CBSE has consistently been the best among all educational systems. Students from NVs are excelling in various fields such as engineering, medical science, the armed forces, civil services, etc., at par with the best talent from urban India.