Kendriya Vidyalaya Admissions Witness Sharp Decline Despite Expansion Plans

The Numbers That Shocked Many

Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), long considered the gold standard of affordable quality education for children of central government employees, are witnessing a steep decline in admissions. Official data reveals that enrolments have dropped from 1.95 lakh in 2020–21 to 1.39 lakh in 2024–25, a decline of nearly 29% in just four academic sessions. Ironically, this comes at a time when the Union Government announced 85 new KVs, with a promise of expanding access.

Why the Decline?

Demographic & Workforce Shifts: Central government transfers, one of the primary reasons for KV admissions, have reduced significantly due to the digitalisation of administration and the adoption of remote working for many government roles. As fewer families relocate, the automatic inflow of students has slowed.
Rising Competition from Private & International Schools: Parents are increasingly looking for international curricula (IB/IGCSE), better infrastructure, and co-curricular opportunities that private schools offer, albeit at a higher cost. For families with rising incomes, this is a factor in declining KV preference.
Post-Pandemic Digital Learning Trends: COVID-19 accelerated home-schooling, hybrid learning, and edtech adoption. Many families found alternatives to physical schooling, reducing pressure on KV seats.
Policy Stagnation & Curriculum Concerns: Critics argue that KVs have been slow to integrate NEP 2020 reforms, especially in skill-based education and modern pedagogy. The perception of an outdated teaching model may be impacting aspirant interest.

Voices from the Ground

Parents’ Perspective: “We trust KVs, but the class size and lack of digital infrastructure are concerns,” says an Army officer posted in Pune.
Teachers’ Perspective: “We need better teacher-student ratios and modern labs to compete with private schools,” shares a KV faculty member anonymously.

The Road Ahead

The Ministry of Education is now working on:

Curriculum modernization aligned with NEP 2020.
Integration of AI & digital tools for smart classrooms.
Enhanced outreach for non-government employee admissions.

Bottom line: KVs still hold immense credibility, but they need to evolve from being transfer-dependent institutions to becoming choice-driven schools.