J-K’s Ramkot gets new Kendriya Vidyalaya; Jitendra Singh urges students to avail INSPIRE, DST schemes

Union minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the newly-sanctioned Kendriya Vidyalaya at Ramkot in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, stating that a long-standing demand of the region has been fulfilled.

Speaking after the inauguration, the minister called upon students and faculty to avail dedicated government-schemes introduced through the ministry of science and technology to identify and groom the potential innovators and start-ups among school children.

"The establishment of the Kendriya Vidhyalaya will give a boost to education and provide uninterrupted quality education to the children of local residents, apart from the wards of security personnel posted in Ramkot," the minister said in his address after the inauguration of the school in his native constituency.

As many as 200 students have already enrolled for the 2025-26 academic session at the Kendriya Vidhyalaya (KV), Ramkot for classes one to five, with 40 students in each class, PTI reported. The KV Ramkot is presently housed in a temporary accommodation in the premises of Government Model Higher Secondary School, Ramkot.

Also read KV student enrollment drops 28.4% in 5 years, 2025-26 funds dip sharply: Govt

Jitendra Singh highlights DST schemes

“KV was a long standing demand of this region which is known for its educational aptitudes and has produced several civil servants, doctors and professionals of repute in the past,” the minister said in an X post.

Singh urged parents of students aged 10 to 17 years to avail the Department of Science and Technology (DST) scholarships and grants like INSPITE-MANAK, under which Rs 10,000 is awarded to each selected student as financial assistance.

He also encouraged students aged between 17 to 22 years to avail the INSPIRE scholarship (SHE), under which Rs 60,000 a year, including Rs 20,000 mentorship grant is provided to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) to pursue basic sciences and research.

Singh also highlighted exclusive benefits under Vigyan Jyoti Scheme for girl students of Class 9 to 12 to pursue higher education and careers in science and technology.

The Centre in October approved the opening of 57 new KVs across the country with a total outlay of more than Rs 5,862 crore. Currently, there are 1,288 functional KVs, including 3 abroad – Moscow, Kathmandu, and Tehran. Around 13.62 lakh students were enrolled in all KVs as on June 30, 2025.