Wed Dec 24 13:36:23 UTC 2025: Summary:
The Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam (MMI), a Coimbatore-based organization, has appealed to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) to cancel the entrance examinations for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs). MMI argues that these entrance exams, especially for children as young as 10 or 11, violate the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which prohibits screening procedures for admissions up to Class 8. They also claim that the exams disproportionately benefit children from urban and wealthier backgrounds due to the prevalence of coaching centers, despite the 75% reservation for rural students. MMI requests a transparent admission process aligned with RTE guidelines to ensure disadvantaged students benefit, alongside legal consultations and swift action. This appeal coincides with the Supreme Court’s direction to identify sites for new JNVs in Tamil Nadu.
News Article:
Entrance Exams for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas Challenged as RTE Violation
Coimbatore, December 24, 2025 – The Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam (MMI), a Coimbatore-based organization, is calling for the abolishment of entrance examinations for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), citing a violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. In a letter addressed to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), MMI President V. Eswaran argues that the competitive exams subject young children to undue psychological pressure and contradict the RTE Act, which prohibits screening procedures for admissions up to Class 8.
“Designating JNVs as a ‘specified category’ does not exempt them from upholding the fundamental rights of children,” stated Eswaran in the letter.
The MMI also highlights the disproportionate advantage enjoyed by students from urban and wealthier families, due to the proliferation of private coaching centers, despite the 75% reservation for rural students. They argue that this undermines the intention of ensuring access to quality education for disadvantaged children.
The organization is urging the NCPCR, NVS, and the Ministry of Education to implement a transparent admission process aligned with RTE guidelines, ensuring that genuinely disadvantaged students benefit from the program. They are also calling for immediate legal consultation to address the alleged violation of children’s fundamental rights.
The appeal comes as the Supreme Court has recently directed the identification of sites for new JNVs in Tamil Nadu, further underscoring the importance of ensuring equitable access to these institutions. The issue promises to be a significant point of discussion in the coming weeks.
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