India, Oct. 1 -- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the opening of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) across 17 states and Union Territories (UTs) in the country, aimed at facilitating the educational needs of the wards of the central government employees.

Of the 57 new KVs, 19 or one-third of the new schools are approved for Bihar, 4 each for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and rest for the states of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana, and Union territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir among others.

"Covering 17 states and UTs, these 57 new KVs will expand the reach of quality and affordable education in aspirational, underserved, Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) and hilly areas an...