Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri. Durgadas Uikey today informed Rajya Sabha that there is a provision of establishing EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, as per the 2011 Census. The State-wise/UT- wise details of status of EMRSs is given at Annexure.

As on 06.03.2026, a total of 499 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) are operational across the country with an enrollment of 1,56,564 students. NESTS has undertaken its first drive for direct recruitment of 10,391 posts through ESSE-2023. Staff selected through this process have been posted in EMRSs. To ensure that academic activities are not hampered, guest teachers are also engaged by State Societies, wherever vacancies arise.

All new EMRSs having an area of 15 acres, with student capacity of 480 from Classes VI to XII are well equipped with modern design. These include separate Boys’ and Girls’ Hostels, integrated dining and kitchen facilities, quarters for teaching and non-teaching staff, classrooms with modern teaching aids, science and computer laboratories, libraries with diverse learning resources, playgrounds and sports equipment, facilities for extracurricular activities like music, art and sports to preserve local art and culture, computer labs with internet access, skill development and vocational training programs to enhance employability, etc. Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS) have been merged with EMRS w.e.f. 29.04.2022.

As reported by the States, during 2024–25, the pass percentage of EMRS students in Class X was 89% and in Class XII was 85%. Further, 129 EMRSs achieved 100% results in Class X and 72 EMRSs achieved 100% results in Class XII. In the same year, 219 EMRS students qualified IIT-JEE (Main), 34 qualified IIT-JEE (Advanced), and 344 students qualified the NEET examination, indicating positive learning outcomes.

To nurture sports talent in EMRSs, National Level Sports Meet is organized by NESTS, apart from State level sports competition in the respective EMRS States. The 4th National EMRS Sports Meet 2025 was held from 11th to 15th November 2025 in Rourkela, Sundargarh and Rajgangpur, Odisha. Around 5,500 tribal students from 21 States and 1 UT participated in 22 individual and team sporting disciplines, with near-equal participation of girls and boys.

Further, to enhance and promote Skill development in EMRSs, under the SANKALP Project of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and National Skill Development Corporation, 400 Skill Labs have been established in 200 EMRS campuses, equipped with robotics, digital fabrication, and electronics tools.

Annexure

Annexure as referred in part (a) of the reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred question No. 2223 for 11.03.2026 raised by Shri RyagaKrishnaiah, Shri Ujjwal DeoraoNikam and Shri Manan Kumar Mishraregarding “EKLAVYA MODEL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS”

State-wise/UT-wise details of status of EMRSs

 

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