Public schools are schools run by the government or government bodies like municipality council and so on. The respected state board syllabus is adopted in these schools. The students need to pay very little fees or in some cases no fees, to attend these schools. Certain state governments wave the fees of the students based on factors like their economic background and so on.

In most cases the afternoon meal is provided so as to give an incentive to students from the poorer classes who may otherwise have to go and work for a living. In certain states the standard of education in a public school is at par with that of the private schools.