Some schools are remembered for their results, while others are known for the people who once sat in their classrooms. Across India, there are institutions that have built a strong reputation over decades as many of their former students have gone on to become prime ministers, billionaires, CEOs, actors, authors and members of the royal family. Here are some of the schools that have produced some of India’s most famous personalities. this doon schoolThe boarding school in Dehradun is one of the most famous in the country. Since its founding in 1935, it has educated leaders in politics, business, journalism, literature and sports. Its alumni include former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Max Group founder Analjit Singh, Hero Enterprises Chairman Sunil Kant Monjal, Eicher Automobile Che managing director Siddharth Lal, Booker Prize winner Amitav Ghosh, novelist Vikram Seth, journalists Prannoy Roy and Karan Thapa, Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, and artist Anish Kapoor.
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Founded in 1875, Mayo College The school in Ajmer was originally established to educate the sons of the princely states of India. Today, it is one of the most recognized boarding schools in the country. Over the years it has provided education for members of the royal family from several former princely states. Its famous alumni include former external affairs minister K. Natwar Singh, diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla, actor Vivek Oberoi, former chief of naval staff Admiral Sunil Lamba, author Indra Sinha and the last ruling Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir Hari Singh.
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Another institution with a long history is Scindia School In Gwalior. It was established in 1897 within the Gwalior Fort and initially catered to princes and noble families and later opened its admissions to students from different backgrounds. Its alumni include film producer Anurag Kashyap, actor Salman Khan, several former royals and business leaders.
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Wareham Girls’ School Dehradun educated many women who later entered public life, politics and entertainment. Its former students include Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and actor Manisha Koirala.
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Mumbai’sCathedral and John Connon School IThis is one of the oldest schools in India and has many famous alumni. Among them are Kumar Mangalam BirlaActor Aamir Khan, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, writer Shobhaa De and actor Kabir Bedi.
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St. Paul’s School Darjeeling has also given birth to several luminaries over the years. Its alumni include Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, executive chairman of EIH Limited and The Oberoi Group, surgeon Samiran Nundy and economist Rehman Sobhan.
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bishop cotton school One of the oldest boarding schools in Asia, located in Shimla, has produced several military officers, civil servants, business leaders and athletes. Woodstock School in Mussoorie, meanwhile, follows an international curriculum and counts TED curator Chris Anderson and author Gita Mehta among its alumni.
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Can regular students enter these schools?
Schools such as The Doon School, Mayo College, The Scindia School and Welham Girls’ School represent the highest level of school education in India. These institutions are decades old and known for their academic excellence, boarding facilities, sports infrastructure and influential alumni. They are also among the most expensive schools in the country, with annual fees running into hundreds of thousands of rupees depending on class, boarding status and other expenses.However, study in these schools was not limited to children from wealthy families, business or royal backgrounds. Most schools have a formal admission process open to qualified students from India and abroad. Depending on the institution, applicants need to clear the entrance examination, attend an interview or interaction and meet the stipulated age and academic eligibility criteria.Due to the limited number of seats, competition for admission is fierce, especially in popular entry classes. Some of these schools also offer merit-based scholarships, need-based financial aid, or fee discounts to qualified students. While qualifications and selection processes vary from school to school, admission is based on meeting the school’s criteria rather than family background or social status.