The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of 28 new Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) in districts currently without these institutions. The initiative, under the Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme (a Central Sector Scheme), is set to enhance access to quality education in rural areas across the country. However, Tamil Nadu remains notably absent from the list due to its state government’s persistent opposition to implementing Navodaya schools.
The project involves a financial outlay of ₹2,359.82 crore over five years (2024-25 to 2028-29), including ₹1,944.19 crore for infrastructure development and ₹415.63 crore for operational expenses. Each of the 28 NVs will accommodate 560 students, benefitting a total of 15,680 students. These residential, co-educational schools offer modern education from Class VI to XII and are known for their merit-based admission process and consistent excellence in CBSE board results.
While the scheme has been lauded for its inclusivity—with increasing representation from girls (42%), Scheduled Castes (24%), Scheduled Tribes (20%), and Other Backward Classes (39%)—Tamil Nadu’s exclusion highlights a glaring gap. The state government has consistently opposed Navodaya schools, citing concerns over the perceived impact on its own education system and linguistic policies.
Currently, 661 Navodaya Vidyalayas have been sanctioned across India, with 653 operational, including schools designated as PM SHRI schools under the National Education Policy 2020. Tamil Nadu, however, remains one of the few states without any NVs, depriving rural students of opportunities to access high-quality education in a residential setting.
This latest expansion of Navodaya Vidyalayas continues the scheme’s legacy of promoting equitable access to quality education, even as certain states like Tamil Nadu choose to remain on the sidelines.
(With inputs from PIB)
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