KVS vs DPS: There are more than 14 lakh schools in India. This list includes both government and private schools. Some government schools are so good that they are compared to private schools. Kendriya Vidyalaya i.e. KVS is a government school and Delhi Public School i.e. DPS is a private school. Both are very different from each other. Despite this, they are compared with each other. For parents who can get their children admitted to both, it becomes difficult to make the right decision.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Delhi Public School Society (DPS), both are prestigious school systems in India. However, there are many differences in their structure, objectives, fees, and admission process. There are 213 DPS in India and 5 abroad. At the same time, there are 1256 Kendriya Vidyalaya in the country and 3 abroad (Kendriya Vidyalaya). If you want to get your child admitted to the country's top government school KVS or DPS included in the list of top private schools, then understand the big differences between these two.

Differences in admission process of KVS and DPS
Kendriya Vidyalaya

How to get admission to KV?

Online registration for class 1 (kvsonlineadmission.kvs.gov.in) and lottery system.

Offline for classes 2 to 8, based on priority on vacant seats.

Admission test for class 9 and based on 10th marks for class 11.

Priority: Children of central government employees (transferable/non-transferable), army, and paramilitary forces are given priority. 25% of seats are reserved for EWS, SC/ST, and OBC under RTE (Right to Education). Children of non-government employees get a chance when seats are vacant.

Age: 6 years for class 1 (as of 31st March), Divyang children are given relaxation of 2 years.

Documents: Birth certificate, transfer certificate, residence proof, EWS/BPL certificate (if applicable).

Delhi Public School

How to get admission to DPS?

Most DPS schools start admission from nursery or class 1, and some from later classes.

Filling of forms (online/offline), interaction/test, and merit-based.

The process may vary for each branch (e.g. test in DPS Delhi, interview in DPS Bangalore).

Preference: No government preference; admission can be based on merit, sibling already studying in DPS, or donation (sometimes).

Age: 3-4 years for nursery, 5-6 years for class 1 (depends on school).

Documents: Birth certificate, previous school result, residence proof, parent's ID card.

KVS or DPS, which one has more advantages to study in?

Kendriya Vidyalaya

Low fees: Very affordable as it is government (free for EWS/SC/ST/single girl child).

Unified education: NCERT books, CBSE syllabus, same quality across the country.
Transfer facility: If central government employees are transferred, the child can easily get admission to another KVS.
Hindi-English focus: Strong foundation in both languages.
Sports culture: Focus on scouts, sports, and cultural activities.

Delhi Public School

High facilities: Smart classes, labs, library, and modern infrastructure.
Emphasis on English: Preparation for global standards, especially for competitive exams.
Exposure: International programs (IB in some DPS), extra-curricular activities.
Reputation: Top ranking in private schools, better record in college placements.
Small classes: Low student-teacher ratio, personal attention to every child.

What are the disadvantages of studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya or DPS?
Kendriya Vidyalaya

Limited seats: Priority to government employees, difficult for common people.
Less modern: Lack of smart classes or labs in some schools.
Teacher quality: Differences between regular and contract teachers, sometimes less focus in the primary.
Admission process: Uncertainty due to the lottery system.

Delhi Public School

High fees: Expensive for the middle class, extra charges (transport, activities).

Competition: Tough competition for admission, pressure in tests/interviews.

Inequality: The quality of every branch is not the same (eg DPS Delhi vs DPS of a small town).

Transfer difficult: Being private, there is no guarantee of a seat in another branch if transferred.

Less Hindi: Less emphasis on the Hindi language, which can be detrimental to government jobs.

KVS or DPS, which one should I get my child admitted to?

Why choose KVS?

Are you a central government employee or want good education in a low budget?
Want to make your child strong in both Hindi and English?
There is a possibility of transfer and affordable, uniform education is a priority.
Can take advantage of RTE or reservation.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News 18 hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.