General information about JNV..

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) are a system of alternate schools for gifted students in India. They are run by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, New Delhi, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education, Government of India. JNVs are fully residential and co-educational schools affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi, with classes from VI to XII standard. JNVs are specifically tasked with finding talented children in rural areas of India and providing them with an education equivalent to the best residential school system, without regard to their family's socio-economic condition.^[1]
JNVs exist all over India, with the exception of Tamil Nadu. There are approximately 596 JNVs across India (one school per district) as of 2014.

History

The concept of opening Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in every district of India was born as a part of section 5.15 in New Policy on Education (NPE86)

Admission

Admission to the JNVs requires qualifying in an entrance exam, called the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST), designed, developed and conducted by NCERT earlier and now by the CBSE, except lateral admissions in the class IX and XI to the very limited seats held on annually apparently on February 2nd Sunday. It is administered by the respective Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya regional center. The test encompasses reasoning/Mental ability skills, Maths, and Regional language. The school provides reservation as per mandate of Govt. of India, at least 75% selection of students from rural areas, maximum 25% from urban areas and fixed 33% to girl students. Applications to appear in the test are made freely available at the Vidyalayas and District Education Offices. The JNV Samiti takes extensive care to make the applications available (and to communicate their availability through multiple media outlets) to far-flung rural districts, so as to properly serve this under-served population. Every year every JNV select about 80 most meritorious students. There is no admission fee and no re-admission fee however the non below poverty line and General category male students of Class IX to XII are charged 200 per month in welfare of Vidyalayas called Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi.

Infrastructure

Locations

Main article: List of Navodaya Vidyalayas

Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti set up its first school in Amravati, Maharashtra, in 1985. Since then, the Samiti has established nearly 600 schools across the Country, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, except Tamil Nadu.

Hostels

Generally, each location hosts four hostels. Students are divided into four houses, whose names vary by location. But generally the names of Houses are Aravali, Nilgiri, Shivalik and Udaigiri, They are named after Ranges in India. The hostels are each divided into two sections, one for senior students (IX,X,XI XII Standard) and other for junior students (VI,VII,VIII Standard). And it is same for both girls and boys.

Cultural activities

Cultural activities are a key part of the JNV program. Each school has a music hall where the students are taught to play different musical instruments. Inter-school competitions are held at all India level.

Sports

JNVs give great emphasis to sports. Every JNV provides facilities for football, volleyball, basketball, kho-kho, badminton, kabaddi, and cricket. The daily schedule allots at least two hours a day toward sports or other play activities. The campuses also provide a gymnasium and multi-purpose room for indoor games.
Inter-school competitions are also yearly once at cluster, regional, national, and SGFI (Sports and Games Federation of India) level.

Scouting, guiding and NCC

Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti is recognised as a state for scouting and guiding activities by the Bharat Scouts and Guides. Navodaya students regularly and actively participate in programmes of BSG. NCC is being introduced in JNVs in a phased manner. Samiti had a total cadet strength of 9420 during 2003-2004. As part of NCC training, students of the JNVs attended several camps and excelled themselves.

Migration

One of the important features of the JNV scheme is an exchange programme wherein students visit JNVs in different linguistic regions to promote understanding of the diversity and plurality of India's culture and its people. The aim of the exchange program is focused on national integration. According to the scheme, selected 30% of 9th class students are exchanged between JNVs of non-Hindi speaking region and Hindi speaking region, for one year.