Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to school infrastructure in Odisha, the Union government is all set to establish as many as six new Kendriya Vidyalayas in the state.
The approval for setting up the new Central Schools was granted at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday.
Official sources said the Cabinet approved the establishment of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) across India, including six in Odisha.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who represents Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat in Odisha, welcomed the move, calling it a step towards fulfilling the educational aspirations of students in the state.
“These new KVs will play a vital role in strengthening the education ecosystem, especially in underserved areas,” said Dharmendra.
The total financial outlay for the project is estimated at Rs 5,862.55 crore over a period of nine years starting from 2026–27. This includes Rs 2,585.52 crore in capital expenditure and Rs 3,277.03 crore in operational costs.
Significantly, the new Kendriya Vidyalayas will for the first time feature Bal Vatika (pre-primary classes), offering three years of foundational education in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.