Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, often called JNVs or Navodaya schools, are co-educational residential schools run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti under India’s Ministry of Education. The scheme was designed to bring quality schooling to talented children, particularly those from rural areas.

How the Navodaya schools began

Two experimental schools were established in 1985–86. The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya scheme began in 1986–87 under the National Policy on Education of 1986. The schools were designed to give students from different backgrounds access to a common curriculum and the chance to live and learn together.

The Ministry of Education reported 689 sanctioned JNVs in its December 2025 parliamentary reply. Sanction is the approval to establish a school. The school directory links to individual campus records and shows their published status.

Residential school life

Students live on campus and share a school day that includes classes, time for study and activities beyond the classroom. The Navodaya scheme puts emphasis on sports, culture, environmental awareness and learning to live with people from different backgrounds. Schools follow a common curriculum and generally serve Classes VI to XII.

Life on a residential campus helps explain why many former students stay connected through their school, house and batch long after leaving.

How Class VI admission works

The main entry point is Class VI through the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test, or JNVST. The NVS prospectus sets the district, schooling and age requirements for each intake. A student’s home district and the district where they attend Class V matter for eligibility. The selection test and school admission are administered by NVS.

For application dates, eligibility, rural-seat rules and the current prospectus, use the official NVS admissions portal.

What is the Class IX migration programme?

Under the NVS migration programme, selected Class IX students from a JNV in a Hindi-speaking state spend an academic year at a partner JNV in a non-Hindi-speaking state, and vice versa. The exchange gives students a chance to study in another region and learn alongside peers with a different language and culture.

Alumni who studied at two campuses can keep their first school as their home chapter on Navodaya Together and record their other school connection.

Find a school or reconnect as an alumnus

Browse the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya directory by state and campus. Where records are available, school profiles include addresses, office contacts and the sources for historical details. Former students can use the JNV alumni guide to find a chapter and learn how to join.