• To establish ,endow, maintain, control,and manage schools(hereinafter called the 'Navodaya Vidyalaya') and to do all acts and things necessary for or conducive to the promotion of such schools which will have the following objectives:
• To provide good quality modern education-including a strong component of culture inculcation of values, awareness of the environment, adventure activities and physical education- to the talented children predominantly from the rural areas without regard to their family's socio-economic condition.
• To provide facilities, at a suitable stage, for instruction through a common medium, viz., Hindi and English, all over the country.
• Offer a common core-curriculum to ensure comparability in standards and to facilitate and understand the common and composite heritage of our people.
• To progressive bring students from one part of the country to another in each school to promote national integration and enrich the social content.
• To serve as a focal point for improvement in quality of school education through training of teachers in live situations and sharing of experiences and facilities.
• To establish, develop, maintain and manage hostels for the residence of students of Navodaya Vidyalayas.
• To aid, establish and conduct other institutions as may be required for the furtherance of the Society's objects in any part of India
• To do all such things as may be considered necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or any of the objects of the society.

Navodaya Vidyalayas draw their students strength from talented children, selected on the basis of a merit test, called the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test,  designed, developed and conducted  initially by NCERT  and now  by CBSE. The test is held annually on an All India basis and at block and  district levels. The test is objective, class neutral and is so designed as to ensure that rural children are not  at a disadvantage while attempting it.

Admission in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas is primarily for children from the rural areas, with provision of at least 75% seats for rural children. Seats are reserved for children from  SC and ST communities in proportion to their population in the district but not less than the national average. 1/3 of the seats are filled by girl students. 3% of the seats are for disabled children.

Navodaya Vidyalayas  are affiliated to CBSE and offer free education to talented  children from  Class-VI to XII. Entry to  Navodaya Vidyalaya is made in Class-VI  with lateral entry in  Classes- IX & XI.  Each  Navodaya Vidyalaya is a co-educational  residential institution providing free  boarding and lodging, free school uniforms, text books, stationery, and to and fro rail and bus fare to students. However, a nominal fee @  Rs. 600/- per month is charged from the boys of Classes- IX to XII as Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi except from the students of exempted category.

The Scheme of Navodaya Vidyalayas provides for implementation of the Three Language Formula. The third language taught in Hindi speaking districts is linked to the migration of students.  All Navodaya Vidyalayas follow the Three Language Formula i.e. Regional language, English and Hindi.

The medium of instruction will be mother-tongue/regional language upto VII or VIII Class. Thereafter the common medium would be Hindi/English in all Navodaya Vidyalayas.

Navodaya Vidyalayas aim at inculcating values of national integration through migration scheme. Migration is an inter-regional exchange of students between Hindi and Non-Hindi speaking districts, which takes place for one academic year in Class-IX. Efforts are made to promote better understanding of the unity in diversity and to develop and promote understanding of the rich cultural heritage through various activities.