The system came into being in 1965, named "Central Schools", and has been affiliated with CBSE since then. It serves the children of people in the defence services who are often posted to remote places. With the army starting its own Army Public Schools, the service was extended (but not restricted to) to all central government employees. The uniform curriculum followed by these schools all over India ensures that the children of government employees do not face educational difficulties when their parents are transferred.
The name was later changed from "Central School" to "Kendriya Vidyalaya".
There are 981 Kendriya Vidyalayas including four outside India, having 10,18,581 students (as of the end of August 2008) and 48,262 employees (including outsourced) on rolls (as of 1 March 2009). These have been divided amongst 21 regions each headed by an Assistant Commissioner.
A body known as the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (Central School Organization) oversees the functioning of these schools.
The objective is to cater to the educational needs of the children of transferable Central Government employees including Defence and Para-Military personnel by providing a common syllabus and system of education.
