Kendriya Vidyalaya Patna refers to schools of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan system located in Patna, the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Bihar. As part of the central government's chain of schools serving children of transferable central government employees and others, Kendriya Vidyalayas in Patna form part of the educational landscape of the city.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Location | Patna, Bihar, India |
| City | Patna (historically Pataliputra) |
| State | Bihar |
| Type | School (Kendriya Vidyalaya system) |
| Region | Southern bank of the river Ganges |
Patna is the capital and largest city of Bihar. According to the United Nations, as of 2018 the city had a population of about 2.35 million, making it the 19th largest city in India, and its urban agglomeration, covering around 250 square kilometres (97 sq mi), was the 18th largest in the country. The modern city lies mainly on the southern bank of the river Ganges and also straddles the Son, Gandak and Punpun rivers. The city extends roughly 35 kilometres in length and between 16 and 18 kilometres in width, providing the urban context within which Kendriya Vidyalaya campuses in Patna operate.
Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. It was founded in 490 BCE by the king of Magadha, and in antiquity, as Pataliputra, served as the capital of the Magadha Empire under the Haryanka, Nanda, Mauryan, Shunga, Gupta and Pala dynasties. The city was a celebrated seat of learning and fine arts, associated with scholars such as Aryabhata, Vātsyāyana and Chanakya. During the Maurya period, around 300 BCE, its population is estimated to have been around 400,000.
After the decline of the Gupta Empire, the city lost prominence, and was revived by the British in the 17th century as a centre of international trade. Following the partition of the Bengal Presidency in 1912, Patna became the capital of Bihar and Orissa Province, and later of Bihar. Patna also serves as the seat of the Patna High Court.
Patna's long tradition as a centre of learning, dating back to Pataliputra, continues to inform its identity as an educational hub in eastern India. The city lies near several major pilgrimage centres important to Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs, including Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya and Pawapuri; Patna City itself is sacred to Sikhs as the birthplace of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Schools in Patna, including the Kendriya Vidyalayas, function within this historically rich environment.
According to the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Bihar, the nominal GDP of Patna district was estimated at ₹63,176.55 crore in 2011–12, with a per capita GDP of ₹1,08,657 and a growth rate of 7.29 per cent. Patna recorded an average annual growth of 3.72% during 2006–2010 and was identified by the City Mayors Foundation as among the fastest growing cities in India and the world. In June 2009, the World Bank ranked Patna second in India, after Delhi, for ease of starting a business.