Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya

Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme	Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)
Launch Year	2004
Benefits	Free residential schooling, boarding, food, uniforms, textbooks, stationery and educational support
Beneficiary	Girls aged 10–18 from disadvantaged groups, including SC, ST, OBC, minority and BPL families
Nodal Agency	Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education
Subscription	Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Apply	Through the concerned State/UT education department, Samagra Shiksha office or KGBV; there is no single national application portal

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya: Free Residential Schooling for Girls

For many girls in India, staying in school is hard for reasons that have nothing to do with ability. The nearest school may be too far, the family may struggle with costs, or there may be no safe place to stay. The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme was created to remove these barriers by giving girls from disadvantaged backgrounds a place to live and study.

What KGBV is

KGBV was launched by the Government of India in 2004 as a residential schooling programme for girls at the upper-primary level. Since 2018-19, KGBVs and Girls’ Hostels have come together under Samagra Shiksha, with the aim of supporting girls’ education up to the senior secondary level. The programme is administered by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, while State and UT Samagra Shiksha systems handle daily running and admissions. The latest national figure reports 5,316 functional KGBVs in 2026.

KGBVs are especially useful in areas where girls have limited access to regular schools. Residential schooling is provided in eligible Educationally Backward Blocks and other areas covered by the programme rules.

Who it is for

The programme generally covers girls aged 10 to 18 studying in Classes VI to XII, depending on the type of KGBV. It mainly serves girls from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities and from BPL families. Girls who are out of school, have dropped out or are otherwise vulnerable may get preference under State or UT rules.

Which classes are available

Not every KGBV offers the same classes. Type I covers Classes VI to VIII. Type II covers Classes VI to X. Type III covers Classes VI to XII. Type IV covers Classes IX to XII and relates to girls’ hostels brought into the KGBV framework. Because the expansion to senior secondary level has been taken up in phases, the classes at a particular KGBV depend on its type, upgradation status and approved facilities.

What students receive

Girls staying at a KGBV get boarding, lodging and food, along with uniforms, textbooks, stationery and other learning materials. Health and hygiene support is included, such as medical care and menstrual hygiene facilities. Students can also take part in sports, recreation, vocational and life-skill activities, and use libraries, laboratories and ICT facilities as available.

Safety and confidence are part of the picture too. KGBVs offer self-defence training under Rani Laxmibai Atma Raksha Prashikshan, with financial support of up to ₹5,000 per month for three months per school. Digital learning has been strengthened as well: 3,564 ICT labs and 3,655 smart classrooms were approved under the 2024 intervention for functional KGBVs and girls’ hostels.

The exact facilities can vary by KGBV type, State or UT, and Samagra Shiksha norms.

Eligibility in short

The applicant must be a girl seeking admission to a class the KGBV offers, generally aged 10 to 18. Priority goes to SC, ST, OBC and minority girls, and BPL families are included. The KGBV should be in an area covered by the programme norms, and admission depends on seat availability and the rules of the State or UT.

How to apply

There is no single national application portal, form or entrance examination. Admissions are handled by each State or UT, so dates, documents and selection rules differ from place to place.

A good way to begin is to contact the nearest KGBV, the Block Education Office, the district education office or your State Samagra Shiksha authority. They can tell you about available seats, admission dates, documents and the local selection process. You can also use the Ministry of Education’s State and UT education directory to find your State’s official website, then look for the Samagra Shiksha or KGBV section and read the latest admission notice.

If your State offers online applications, use the link given in the official notice, enter the student’s details exactly as they appear in the supporting documents, upload any requested documents, and save the application number. If the process is offline, collect the form from the KGBV or the education office, fill it in carefully, attach the documents, and submit it to the office named in the notice. Then follow the instructions on verification, selection and confirmation.

Please use only the link or form provided by your State or UT authority and avoid unofficial registration websites.

Documents you may need

Requirements depend on the State, so do not assume every item below is mandatory. Commonly asked-for documents include the girl’s age or date-of-birth proof, a caste certificate for SC, ST or OBC applicants, minority community proof where required, a BPL or income document, residence proof, previous school records such as a transfer certificate or marksheet, Aadhaar or another identity document, recent passport-size photographs, and an orphan, disability or other supporting certificate where applicable. Check the latest notification for your State.

Quick answers

Is KGBV a residential school? Yes. Is there an entrance exam? No national one exists, and admission follows State or UT rules. Which ministry runs it? The Ministry of Education, through the Department of School Education and Literacy.

Where to ask for help

The Central Government does not run a national KGBV admission helpline. For admissions, contact your State or UT education department, State Samagra Shiksha office, the district or block education office, or the nearest KGBV. For general information about the programme, you can refer to the KGBV page on the Samagra Shiksha website. The Department’s address is Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, 110001.