According to data furnished by the Ministry of Education in Lok Sabha, 1,75,261 admissions took place in KVs through 21 special provisions in 2021-22. This included 7,301 through the MPs’ quota, under which each MP can recommend 10 cases for admission in Classes I to IX at the beginning of each academic year. Under the rules, the 10 names have to be confined to children whose parents belong to his/ her constituency.

The quota was introduced in 1975 as a special dispensation scheme. It was withdrawn at least twice in the past, only to be restored. Such is the demand that in 2018-19, 8,164 admissions were made under the MPs’ quota, overshooting the cap.

Incidentally, in 2021-22, there were no admissions under the education minister’s discretionary quota, which is one of the special provisions. In 2019-20 and 2020-21, there were 9,411 and 12,295 admissions respectively in this category.

Other special provisions include children and dependent grandchildren of MPs and serving or retired KV employees; children of recipients of Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra; recipients of the National Bravery Award; 100 children of employees of the Ministry of Education; 15 children of Research and Analysis Wing employees; children orphaned due to Covid-19; children of central government employees who died in harness; children who have shown special talent in fine arts.

(With inputs from agencies)