**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 1558 in the Lok Sabha, answered on February 9, 2026, regarding Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in the Cauvery Delta regions of Tamil Nadu. It addresses the establishment of new KVs, feasibility studies, current operational KVs, and alternative measures for enhancing central schooling. It mentions the PM SHRI Scheme and the status of its implementation in Tamil Nadu.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Opening of New Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs):**
* Opening new KVs is a continuous process.
* KVs primarily cater to the educational needs of wards of transferable Central Government Employees.
* Proposals for new KVs may be sponsored by Ministries/Departments of Government of India/State Governments/Union Territories.
* Sponsors must commit to providing land free of cost and rent-free temporary accommodation.
* No proposal has been received for opening new KVs in Mayiladuthurai or Kumbakonam towns in Tamil Nadu.
* KVs are not opened based on State/UT/District/Parliamentary Constituency/Backward area criteria.
* Currently, 46 KVs are operational in Tamil Nadu.
* **PM SHRI Scheme:**
* The PM SHRI Scheme aims to showcase components of the National Education Policy 2020.
* Established schools are developed as exemplar schools to implement NEP and provide leadership.
* A maximum of two schools per block/ULB can be selected.
* 13,076 PM SHRI schools have been selected across India, including KVS/NVS/NCERT.
* 36 KV schools have been selected as PM SHRI schools from Tamil Nadu, including 3 from the Cauvery delta region.
* The State of Tamil Nadu has not onboarded on PM SHRI Schools despite multiple requests.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Central Government Employees with transferable jobs**
* **Impact:** Provides access to quality central education for their children.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the existing KVs for their children's education.
**Stakeholder: Government of India/State Governments/Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Expected to support and facilitate the establishment of new KVs.
* **Action Required:** Sponsor proposals for new KVs with commitment to provide land and temporary accommodation. The State of Tamil Nadu to onboard the PM SHRI Scheme.
**Stakeholder: Students in Tamil Nadu, especially in the Cauvery Delta Region**
* **Impact:** Access to enhanced central schooling options through KVs and the PM SHRI Scheme.
* **Action Required:** To benefit from the potential upgrade to existing schools under PM SHRI Scheme if Tamil Nadu onboard the scheme.
**Stakeholder: Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)**
* **Impact:** Oversees the process of opening new KVs and implementing the PM SHRI Scheme.
* **Action Required:** Review proposals for new KVs as per KVS norms.
Key Entities Referenced
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS): The organization responsible for administering Kendriya Vidyalayas and setting related norms.
PM SHRI: A scheme for upgrading existing schools into model schools, showcasing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
National Education Policy 2020: A national policy referenced as the framework for the PM SHRI scheme.
Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs): Central government schools, the establishment and operation of which are the subject of the parliamentary question.
Tamil Nadu: The state where the establishment of new Kendriya Vidyalayas in the Cauvery Delta Regions is being discussed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1558
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Kendriya Vidyalayas Cauvery Delta Regions in Tamil Nadu
1558. Km. Sudha R:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the long-pending demand for establishing
Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in Mayiladuthurai or Kumbakonam towns in Tamil
Nadu highlighting the need for quality central education in densely populated
and agriculturally significant Cauvery delta regions, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any feasibility studies and land
availability checks in these areas and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the total number of KVs currently operational in Tamil Nadu, along with the
criteria followed for sanctioning new KVs district-wise; and
(d) whether the Government has any alternative measures being considered to
enhance central schooling options in the Cauvery delta, such as upgrading
existing schools or introducing model schools under schemes like PM SHRI, if so,
the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (c) Opening of new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) is a continuous process. KVs are
opened primarily to cater to the educational needs of the wards of transferable Central
Government Employees including Defence & Para-Military personnel, Central
Autonomous Bodies, Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and Central Institute of
Higher Learning (IHL) by providing a common programme of education throughout the
country. Proposals for opening of new KVs may be sponsored by Ministries or
Departments of the Government of India/State Governments/ Union Territories
Administrations, with commitment to provide requisite extent of land, free of cost andsuitable rent-free temporary accommodation for setting up a new KV, as per Kendriya
Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) norms. As per information received from KVS, no proposal
has been received for opening of new KV in Mayiladuthurai or Kumbakonam towns in
Tamil Nadu. KVs are not opened on the criteria of State/UT/District/Parliamentary
Constituency/Backward area. At present, 46 KVs are operational in the State of Tamil
Nadu.
(d) PM SHRI Scheme aims to showcase all the components of the National
Education Policy 2020. Under PM SHRI scheme, the established schools are
developed as exemplar schools to showcase the implementation of various
components of NEP and also provide leadership to other schools in the
neighbourhood. They provide leadership in their respective regions in providing high-
quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful school environment that takes
care of the diverse background, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities of
children and makes them active participants in their own learning process as per the
vision of NEP 2020.
Under PM SHRI scheme, a maximum of two schools per block/ULB are
selected with an upper limit on the total number of schools across India. A total of
13,076 PM SHRI schools have been selected from 33 States/UTs along with
KVS/NVS/NCERT. Out of 13,076 schools, a total of 36 KV have been selected as PM
SHRI schools from the State of Tamil Nadu including 03 KVs from Cauvery delta region
i.e. KV Thanjavur, KV No. 1, Trichy and KV No. 2, Trichy. The State of Tamil Nadu has
not onboarded itself on PM SHRI Schools despite multiple requests.
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