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According to the Ministry of Education, there are currently 1,356 Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) operating across the country. While 1,012 of these schools have regular Grade-2 principals in place, 344 schools lack permanent principals.

Kendriya Vidyalaya: A large number of principal posts remain vacant in Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country. Data shared by the Ministry of Education in Parliament reveals that 344 Kendriya Vidyalayas do not have appointed regular principals. This means that approximately one in every four Kendriya Vidyalayas is currently operating without a permanent principal. The Ministry states that the process of filling these posts is ongoing and that alternative arrangements have been made to ensure the schools' academic activities remain unaffected despite the vacancies.

According to the Ministry of Education, there are currently 1,356 Kendriya Vidyalayas operating across the country. While 1,012 of these schools have regular Grade-2 principals in place, 344 schools lack permanent principals. This figure has risen compared to previous years; about eight years ago, 200 principal posts were vacant out of a total of 1,081 sanctioned posts. Since then, the number of Kendriya Vidyalayas has increased, but the shortage of regular principals has also grown.

In response to a question asked in Parliament, the Education Minister explained that principal posts frequently fall vacant due to various administrative reasons. These include the establishment of new Kendriya Vidyalayas, retirements, resignations, promotions, transfers, deputations to other departments, and the upgrading of schools. According to the Ministry, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan follows a regular process to fill these posts in accordance with recruitment rules.

In response to a question asked in Parliament, the Education Minister explained that principal posts frequently fall vacant due to various administrative reasons. These include the establishment of new Kendriya Vidyalayas, retirements, resignations, promotions, transfers, deputations to other departments, and the upgrading of schools. According to the Ministry, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan follows a regular process to fill these posts in accordance with recruitment rules.

According to the government, following disruptions to the recruitment process during COVID-19, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan completed the recruitment for 13,441 teaching and non-teaching posts—including the position of Principal—in 2022. Subsequently, in November 2025, a notification was issued for the recruitment of 8,714 teaching staff, comprising 161 Principal posts.

The Tier-1 and Tier-2 examinations for these positions were conducted in 2026. Additionally, a recruitment process for 2,153 posts—including 157 Principal positions—was initiated in December 2025 through a Limited Departmental Examination.

The Ministry of Education states that the academic quality of Kendriya Vidyalayas has remained unaffected despite the vacancies in Principal posts. According to the Ministry, teaching and examination-related activities are proceeding regularly due to alternative administrative arrangements and the appointment of contractual teachers as required.