The Scheme of Kendriya Vidyalayas (Central Schools) was approved in November 1962 by the Govt. of India to provide uninterrupted education to the wards of transferable Central Government employees. As a result, the Central School Organization was started as a unit of the Ministry of Education of the Government of India.
Established in 1963, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan initially comprised only 20 regimental schools, catering to the children of transferable Central Government employees to ensure uninterrupted schooling throughout the academic year. These schools were strategically located in areas with a large concentration of defence personnel. Presently, there are a total of 1,254 KVs with 14,00,632 students pursuing their studies in India and across the world. Also with its establishment in 25 regions and 5 ZIETs (Zonal Institute of Education Training), KV is one of the biggest educational institutions for pre-matric and post-matric studies.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan: Objective
The primary aim of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan is to provide, establish, endow, maintain, control and manage the Central Schools (Kendriya Vidyalayas) located all over India and abroad. The Government of India wholly finances the Kendriya Vidyalayas Sangathan (KVS).
With a dedication to comprehensive student growth, Kendriya Vidyalayas maintain a focus on both academic excellence and physical development. Taking a pioneering role in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, KVS has introduced Bal Vatikas and other significant initiatives across its schools.
Understanding the procedure for KV admissions is essential for parents and guardians, who are seeking a secure future for their wards. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on the eligibility criteria, documents required, application procedure, method of admission, and application process.
KV Admission: An Overview
| Name | Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) |
| Affiliation | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Admission Mode | Online |
| Last Date to Apply | Last Week of April 2024 |
| Original Website | kvsangathan.nic.in |
Salient Features of Kendriya Vidyalaya
Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) provides a comprehensive system of schooling. It is handled by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS). Important features of Kendriya Vidyalayas are as under:
- KV has common textbooks (by NCERT) and a bilingual medium of instruction.
- All KVs in India and those located abroad (Moscow, Tehran, and Kathmandu) are affiliated with the CBSE.
- The KVs are co-educational, composite schools.
- KVs consider Sanskrit as an important subject, which is mandated for students from Classes 6 to 8.
- With an appropriate teacher-pupil ratio, KVs follow a standardised high-quality education.
- KVs does not charge any tuition fee for the following:
- Girls up to Class 12
- Boys up to Class 8
- Children of KVS employees
- SC/ST students
- The girl children admitted under the ‘Single Girl Child’ category are also exempted from paying school fees.
Eligibility Criteria for KV Admission
KV students must fall under the following eligibility criteria to seek admission:
- The candidate must be an Indian citizen for admission into schools located in India.
- Students must be a child of central government employees, army personnel or defence employees.
- A student must fall in the following age brackets to seek admission into their respective classes:
| Classes | Minimum and Maximum Age |
| I | 6 years and less than 8 years of age |
| II | 7 years and less than 9 years of age |
| III | 7 years and less than 9 years |
| IV | 8 years and less than 10 years |
| V | 9 years and less than 11 years |
| VI | 10 years and less than 12 years |
| VII | 11 years and less than 13 years |
| VIII | 12 years and less than 14 years |
| IX | 13 years and less than 15 years |
| X | 14 years and less than 16 years |
| XI | There is no age restriction for admission to Class XI provided the student is seeking admission in the year of passing the Class X examination. |
| XII | No age restriction is applicable however, students must not have any break in their continuous period of studies after having passed Class 11. |
Note:-
- Applicants must fulfil the minimum age criteria as applicable on 31st March in the academic year. Children born on 1st April are considered during admission.
- The maximum age limit can be relaxed by two years in the case of differently abled children by the Principal of the concerned school.
KV Admission Process on the Basis of Categories
The students are admitted to KVs on the basis of priority, vacant seats, transfer cases, reservations for specified categories, and more. Following information listed below will provide a better understanding of the admission process in KVs.
➭ Admission on the Basis of Priority
Under the Civil and Defence Sector the priority in the admission process is given to the following:
- The wards of transferable and non-transferable ex-servicemen and Central Government employees. It also consists of children of Foreign National Officials, who come on transfer or deputation to India on invitation by the Government of India.
- Children of transferable and non-transferable employees of Autonomous Bodies/Public Sector Undertaking/Institute of Higher Learning of the Government of India.
- Children of transferable and non-transferable state government employees.
- Children of transferable and non-transferable employees of Autonomous Bodies/Public Sector Undertakings/Institute of Higher Learning of the State Governments.
- Other categories of children include the wards of Foreign Nationals located in India due to personal reasons or for their work. Foreign Nationals wards are considered if there are no children of Indian Nationals on the waitlist for admission.
Note:- Admission preference will be given to the wards based on the number of transfers of the parents in the last 7 years.
➭ Admission on the Basis of Reservation
The students belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) can avail the benefits of the reservations for admission in Kendriya Vidyalayas. The category-wise seat reservations for fresh admissions are tabulated hereunder:
| Categories | Percentage of Reservation |
| Scheduled Castes (SCs) | 15% Seats |
| Scheduled Tribes (STs) | 7.5% Seats |
| Other Backward Classes (OBCs) | 27% Seats |
| Differently Abled Category | 3% Seats |
➭ KV Admission on the Basis of Transfer Certificate (TC)
Students can get admission to a KV through a TC:
- In the case of a transfer of parents, admission in KV will be done automatically over and above the strength of the class.
- Defence and paramilitary force personnel can admit their wards in KV on the basis of TC. The children of employees posted in a Naxal-affected area can get admission in any of the KVs as per their preference.
- The admission can be granted on the prior approval of the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned region.
- The transfer to the station can be done with the approval of the Deputy Commissioner concerned on merit.
➭ Admission for Vacant Seats
If the seats remain vacant, the KVs can admit students on the basis of the conditions mentioned below:
- The students from the State Boards/Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)/National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) might be considered for admission in KV in Class 11 if the seats remain vacant.
- After 30th June of the current academic session, if the seats remain vacant, the Deputy Commissioner can allow admissions as per the maximum number of seats available in a class till 31 July.
Note:- The decision of Commissioner KVS will be final in case of any admission interpretation-related issues.
➭ Fresh Admission in Class 10 and 12
Students other than KV can get admission in Classes 10 and 12 on the basis of the availability of vacancies. The fresh admissions will be considered by the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned region, only when the class strength is found below 40. The eligibility criteria for fresh admission in Class 10 and 12 are as follows:
- The students must be from a CBSE-affiliated school.
- The students must have scored a minimum of 55% marks in Class 9 or 11 to seek admission in Class 10 and 12 respectively.
- The combination of subjects opted by the students should be available in KV. This is mainly applicable to Class 12.
- The child must be eligible as per the applicable admission guidelines of KV.
Note:- The minimum class strength is 40 and the maximum is 50.
➭ Admission for Students Located Offshore
The students who have visited abroad with the deputation of their parent(s) to a foreign country, will get admission to the corresponding class whenever they return to India. The Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya (where admission is being sought) can admit the student on an immediate basis.
Note:- In these cases, students will get special admission over and above the strength of the class.
Complete Procedure for KV Admission
All Kendriya Vidyalayas follow the same procedure for granting admission to different classes. The following details will provide a better understanding of the admission procedure:
1. Advertisement
The Regional office circulates an advertisement/notice in the newspapers for online registration in Class 1. It consists of an admission schedule and indication that admissions in KVs are not only restricted to government employees but remain open to all. Also, the advertisement will include admission reservations for different categories such as SC, ST, OBC-NCL and Differently Abled (under the RTE Act 2009).
2. Registration Process
The correct registration is the most important step for getting admission to KV. So, read the following important points carefully for a seamless admission procedure.
Registration for Class 1:
- The Principal of the concerned KV is responsible for the Registration forms, which are available free of cost.
- The class 1 registration process remains online through the admission portal whenever the portal makes the admission process live.
- Parents must attach all the required documents (self-attested) of the applicant with the application form and submit them online.
Registration for Class 11:
- Registration for Class 11 is taken up after the immediate declaration of Class 10 results.
- The admission process must be completed up to the maximum number of available seats within 20 days of the declaration of the CBSE Class 10 result.
- In the case of admission-related issues for children up to the sanctioned full strength, the admission procedure for other classes shall be followed and admissions shall be made within 30 days of the result declaration with the Deputy Commissioner’s approval.
Documents Required for KV Admission
For seeking admission to a KV school, students must submit the self-attested required documents listed by the authority. The complete list of documents required for KV admission is mentioned hereafter:
1. Birth certificate
Date of Birth (DOB) certificate issued by the competent authority (certified by notified area council/municipality/municipal corporation to extract about the DOB from records of Military Hospital, Village Panchayat, or Defence personnel service records) etc.
2. Caste certificate
Caste certificate/Below Poverty Line (BPL) card issued by the competent authority in the concerned state government/union government.
3. Disability certificate
A disability certificate is issued by the civil surgeon/rehabilitation centre and other competent authorities approved by the Government of India.
Note:- No certificate is required in the case of blind students, however, the candidate must be approved by the principal after in-person verification.
4. Retirement certificate
Defence employees must submit a certificate of retirement to the school authority.
5. Residence proof
Applicants need to submit an Aadhar card as proof of residence.
6. Service certificate (if applicable)
The certificate of service of a parent is important for showing the total number of transfers during the preceding 7 years. It must be signed and stamped by the head of the office including the name of the employee, designation and other relevant particulars in block letters.
7. Transfer certificate
For admission in Class 2 or above, students are required to submit the transfer certificate provided by the last school.
8. Passport-size Photograph
The passport-size photograph of the student should be attached to the required sections of the application form.
Method of KV Admission in Different Classes
Admission to any class in KV has a standard procedure, which is followed all over India. Detailed methods for admission into different classes in KV are given as under:
KV Admission to Class 1
For fresh admissions out of the total seats available, 25% shall be reserved under the Right To Education Act, 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and 3% seats would be reserved horizontally for differently-abled applicants.
The reservation norms are applicable in a class strength of 40 students per section:
- RTE – 10 seats (25%)
- SC – 6 seats (15%)
- ST – 3 seats (7.5%)
- OBC – 11 seats (27%)
Note:-
- For the differently-abled category students, 3% of seats are reserved horizontally.
- 2 seats are reserved in each class for Single Girl Child (SGC), which consists of twin girls.
Once the registration process is closed, the sequence of the conduct of the lottery system by each Kendriya Vidyalaya will be as under:
- RTE Lottery
- All Differently Abled Lotteries
- Category 1 (CAT I)
- Category 2 (CAT II)
- Scheduled Caste
- Scheduled Tribe
- Other Backward Classes
- Category 3 (CAT III)
- Category 4 (CAT IV)
- Category 5 (CAT V)
- Category 6 (CAT VI, if applicable)
- Single Girl Child (SGC)
KV Admission to Class 2 to 8
Admission in Classes 2 to 8 does not include an entrance test and might be granted on the basis of a priority category system (1 to 5 or 6 if required). If there are more applicants than the vacant number of seats, the lottery system is followed in every category.
KV Admission to Class 9
Admission in Class 9 is based on the admission test and merit list made for each priority category separately. Admission is granted in the sequence of priority categories.
The KV admission test includes the following:
- The test paper includes all the subjects such as Hindi, English, Maths, Social Science and Science.
- Students need to complete the test in a 3 hour duration.
- The test comprises 100 marks (20 marks allotted for each subject) and candidates need to score a minimum of 33% in aggregate to qualify. However, SC/ST/Divyang category students are required to secure 25% in aggregate.
KV Admission to Class 11
The students get admission in the Science, Commerce & Humanities stream in Class 11 on the basis of merit.
- Firstly, Class 10 passed students get admission to Class 11 on the basis of merit. Students get a choice to choose a stream on the basis of marks obtained with the consent of their parents.
- The maximum number of seats in Class 11 is 55, if the seats remain vacant other students can apply for admission to KV.
- The students from nearby KVs as well as non-KV students can apply for admission.
Concession of Marks for Admission in KV in Class 11
- The students who have participated in Games and Sports, Scouting & Guiding, NCC or Adventure activities can get concessions in the admission process for KV.
| Games and Sports | NCC | Scouting/Guiding | Adventure Activities | Concession of Marks in Aggregate |
| School Games Federation of India (SGFI)/ Equivalent level participants | ‘A’ certificate/
participation in Republic Day /PM Rally |
Rashtrapati Puraskar Award certificate | N/A | 6% |
| Participation
at KVS National/State level |
‘A’ certificate and best Cadet in district/state
level |
Rajya Puraskar award certificate with 7 proficiency badges | N/A | 4% |
| KVS Regional or District level participants | ‘A’ certificate | Tritiya Sopan certificate with 5 proficiency badges | Students participated in a minimum of 1 adventure activity of 10 days | 2% |
Note:- The certificated for the above-listed activities can be of any preceding years. Also, students belonging to the SC/ST/OBC/Divyang category get an upgrade in their aggregate marks obtained by 4% marks in choosing admission to the specified subject.
KV Fee and Concession for Students
There are special provisions for students admitted under the RTE category for fee and concession.
- The students admitted under the 25% quota prescribed under the RTE Act 2009 are not required to pay any fees.
- The cost of the NCERT textbook, notebooks, stationary, uniform and transport will be reimbursed after submitting proper bills.
- Students can continue exemptions and concessions in studies till class 8 in the KV.
Note:- If an employee has the facility of reimbursement of fees in their departments, then they can not claim RTE concessions. Also, the address proof of the parents must be furnished at the time of registration.
Important Links
KV Admission: Contact Details
Address: Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan 18, Institutional Area, Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, New Delhi – 110016 (India)
Phone Number: +91-11-26858570
Email ID: commissioner-kvs@gov.in
KV Admission: FAQs
Can a student from a non-KV background get admission to a KV?
Ans. Yes, only if seats remain vacant. In that case, a non-KV student can apply for seeking admission to a KV.
What is the maximum class strength permissible in a KV?
Ans. The maximum number of permissible strength is 55. There are other criteria related to transfer certificates including local transfer. A student with KV TC may also be permitted in project KVs only up to class strength of 45 with the prior concurrence of Chairman, VMC. Beyond this, no admission to KV TC would be allowed in project schools. Meanwhile, the approved strength for Class 10 is 40.
Does KV provide free education for Single Girl Children?
Ans. Yes, KV offers free education for single girl children and twin girls.
What is the age limit applicable for Class 1 admission in KV?
Ans. A child should be at least 6 years old by 31 March ( including children born on 1st April) in the current academic year in which admission is sought.
What is the RTE Act provision related to admission in KV?
Ans. The 25% out of 40 seats need to be filled as per the provisions of the RTE Act in KV. Students from the SC/ST/EWS/BPL/OBC(Non-Creamy Layer), and differently-abled categories are eligible under this provision.
What is the last date applicable for admission to Class 1 in a KV for 2024-25?
Ans. The last date to apply will be announced and published in the local newspapers.