Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, that runs the chain of Kendriya Vidyalayas (Central Schools). The system was established to provide uniform schooling to children of transferable Central Government employees, including those serving in the defence and paramilitary forces, and has since broadened to admit children from other categories as well.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Type | Autonomous body, Government of India |
| Parent ministry | Ministry of Education |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Schools run | Kendriya Vidyalayas |
| Affiliating board | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Medium of instruction | Bilingual (English and Hindi) |
Kendriya Vidyalayas follow a common curriculum based on the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education. The schools were designed to ensure that children of Central Government employees, who are liable to frequent transfers across India, do not face disruption in their education. The Sangathan administers the schools through a network of regional offices and the Zonal Institutes of Education and Training (ZIETs), which handle teacher training and academic support.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya scheme was approved by the Government of India in the mid-1960s, following recommendations of the Second Pay Commission, which had highlighted the educational difficulties faced by children of transferable Central Government staff, especially defence personnel. The scheme initially covered a small number of schools located in stations with a high concentration of defence employees, and was subsequently expanded to civil and project sectors.
KVS functions as a registered society and is governed by a Board of Governors chaired by the Union Minister of Education. The Commissioner is the executive head of the organisation. The schools are grouped into categories based on sponsorship — Civil/Defence, Project sector, Institutes of Higher Learning, and Public Sector Undertakings — although all follow the same curriculum and rules framed by KVS.
Day-to-day administration is decentralised through Regional Offices, each headed by a Deputy Commissioner, who supervise the Kendriya Vidyalayas in their jurisdiction. ZIETs act as in-service training centres for teachers and principals.
Kendriya Vidyalayas offer schooling from Class I to Class XII. At the senior secondary stage, streams in Science, Commerce and Humanities are offered, with availability depending on the individual school. Instruction is bilingual, and Sanskrit, Hindi and English are part of the language curriculum at various stages. Students appear for the CBSE Class X and Class XII board examinations.
Admissions are governed by the Admission Guidelines issued by KVS, which lay down a system of priority categories. Children of transferable Central Government employees and defence personnel are given preference, followed by other specified categories. Admission to Class I is conducted through a process notified annually by the Sangathan.
Kendriya Vidyalayas are among the largest centrally administered school systems in India and are widely regarded for providing affordable, standardised education across the country and at select locations abroad serving Indian missions. The uniform syllabus, transfer-friendly admission rules and presence in remote and defence stations have made the system an important component of public schooling in India.