In accordance with the National Policy of Education (1986) Government of India started Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs). Presently the JNVs are spread in 27 States and 7 Union Territories. These are co-educational residential schools fully financed and administered by Government of India through an autonomous organization, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti. Admissions in JNVs are made through the JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA SELECTION TEST (JNVST) at Class VI. The medium of instruction in JNVs is the mother tongue or regional language up to Class VIII and English thereafter for Maths and Science and Hindi for Social Science. Students of the JNVs appear for X and XII class examinations of the Central Board of Secondary Education. While education in the schools is free including boarding, lodging, uniforms and textbooks, a nominal fee of Rs.200/- per month will have to be paid by the children from IX to XII class. However, children belonging to SC/ST, Girls and Physically Handicapped and from the families whose income is below poverty line are exempted from payment of fees.

Objectives of the Scheme

• To provide good quality modern education including a strong component of culture, inculcation of values, awareness of the environment, adventure activities and physical education to the talented children predominantly from rural areas.
• To ensure that students attain a reasonable level of competency in three languages. To promote national integration through migration of students from Hindi to non-Hindi speaking State and vise-versa.
• To serve in each district as focal point for improvement of quality of school education in general through sharing of experiences and facilities.