Rajnath Singh Approves Setting Up Of 23 New Sainik Schools In 11 States In Partnership Mode

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the setting up of 23 Sainik schools in partnership mode. With this, the number of Sainik schools will rise to 42.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the setting up of 23 Sainik schools in partnership with NGOs/Private Schools/State Governments. With this, the number of Sainik schools has increased to 42 from 33, the Ministry of Defence said on Saturday in a press release. It added that the initiative started in a graded manner class-wise, starting from Class 6 onwards. The approved schools are spread in eleven states - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

According to the release, under the initiative, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed by the Sainik Schools Society with 19 New Sainik Schools located all over the country.

The Defence Ministry said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision behind setting up 100 new Sainik schools is to provide quality education to students in line with the National Education Policy which will help them get better career opportunities, including joining the Armed Forces.

The release said that these schools also give the private sector an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the governments and build a nation by refining the youth to become responsible citizens of tomorrow. 

The schools will function under the Sainik School Society, however, they will remain affiliated to their respective education boards.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had laid the foundation stone for the first cooperative-run Sainik School, Shri Motibhai R Choudhury Sagar Sainik School in Mehsana, Gujarat in July this year. During the programme, he praised PM Modi for not only bringing development to the country but also actively involving everyone in the nation's progress. 

Gujarat's chief minister Bhupendra Patel was also present at the ceremony and said that the PM has given a gift to the daughters of the country, as girls are also given admission to Sainik schools and 10 percent of total seats are reserved for them.