The RSS will start its first army school from April in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district to help students become good citizens, who can contribute to the nation’s development, its functionaries said on Monday.

Named after Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh’s former chief Rajju Bhaiyya, Rajju Bhaiya Sainik Vidya Mandir (RBSVM) will begin from Class 6 onwards and will be a completely residential institution.

Former Indian Army Colonel Shiv Pratap Singh will head the school where students will be helped to prepare for the entrance examinations and physical tests of the National Defence Academy, Indian Naval Academy and others such institutions.

Senior RSS leaders said all infrastructure, including the school building, is ready and applications have been invited for the first batch of 160 students.

Registrations will remain open till February 23 and the entrance examination will be held on March 1.

“The school will run on the pattern of Vidya Bharti institutions run by the RSS. The only objective of this institution is to prepare good citizens who can contribute to the nation’s development,” senior RSS and VHP functionary in Uttar Pradesh Bholendra, who uses one name, said.

“Preparing students for the army will not be the only focus,” he added.

The school has also started the process of appointing teachers, officials said.

It will have a dress code for both teachers and students. Students will have to wear dark-blue trousers and light-blue shirts and for teachers, there will be grey trousers and a white shirt.

The school will also reserve eight seats for the children of army personnel and other defence forces killed in the line of duty.

Apart from this, there will be no reservation of any kind in the school, which follow a curriculum of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).