JNVs

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) are a system of central-government funded residential schools in India that aim to identify and nurture talented rural students and provide them with quality education. They operate under the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education. JNVs provide free education, lodging, and meals from Class VI to XII, with a strong emphasis on academics and holistic development.

Historically launched in the mid-1980s as part of efforts to improve rural access to quality schooling, JNVs are located across the country with one or more Vidyalayas in most districts. They follow a uniform governance framework and the CBSE curriculum, emphasizing both scholastic achievement and character formation. They are designed to serve rural communities and practice a residential, co-educational model.

Admissions are primarily through the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST), conducted at the district level for entry into Class VI. The test assesses mental ability, mathematics, and language skills. A portion of seats is reserved for students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other designated categories in line with government policy. In some locations, limited admissions at other grade levels may be filled through additional selections conducted by the samiti.

Curriculum and campus life: JNVs follow the CBSE syllabus for higher classes and typically offer science, commerce, and arts streams at the senior secondary level. The schools are residential and emphasize academics, along with extracurricular activities and community service.

Migration and governance: The Migration Scheme allows selected rural students to study in a JNV in a different linguistic region for one year to foster national integration. The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and administers policy, staffing, admissions, and standards through regional offices and Vidyalaya Management Committees. Funding comes from the central government to cover salaries, maintenance, and student provisions.