New Delhi, The Union government has sanctioned the establishment of 19 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) across 16 districts in Bihar, marking one of the largest single-state expansions of the central school network in recent years. The decision, long anticipated in the state’s political and educational circles, will raise the total number of operational KVs in Bihar from 53 to 72.
The approval covers proposals originally submitted by the Bihar government for 17 schools in 14 districts, to which the Centre has added two additional institutions – one each in Katihar and Sitamarhi – at the request of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) respectively. The inclusion of security-force-sponsored schools underscores the growing recognition of educational access as a component of both personnel welfare and community development in border and sensitive areas.
Significantly, several educationally underserved districts – including Madhubani, Sheikhpura, Kaimur, Arwal and Madhepura – which previously had no Kendriya Vidyalaya, will now receive their first. Patna, Nalanda and Madhubani have each been allotted two new schools, while single institutions will be set up in Munger, Purnea, Muzaffarpur, Bhojpur, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Kaimur, Madhepura, Sheikhpura, Darbhanga and Arwal.
The Bihar government has provided land free of cost and identified temporary premises to enable immediate commencement of classes, signalling close coordination between Patna and New Delhi on an issue that has often been politically sensitive. The rapid execution framework is intended to minimise delays and counter any perception of partisan foot-dragging in the allocation of central educational resources.
Kendriya Vidyalayas, administered by the Ministry of Education, are widely regarded as institutions of consistent academic quality and are particularly sought after by transferable central government employees, armed forces personnel and aspirational middle-class families. The expansion is expected to ease pressure on existing schools in urban centres such as Patna – where the number of KVs will rise from five to seven – and extend high-quality, affordable education to rural and semi-urban populations.
Analysts view the move as part of a broader push to strengthen human-capital infrastructure in one of India’s most populous and historically underperforming states on key socio-economic indicators. With education increasingly seen as a critical lever for demographic dividend realisation, the addition of nearly 20 centrally funded schools represents a tangible commitment to bridging regional disparities.
The new Kendriya Vidyalayas are likely to commence operations in temporary facilities from the upcoming academic session, with permanent campuses to be developed over the next few years.
