Updated Coaching Scheme for PM CARES Beneficiaries

February 21, 2025

Recently, the Government of India revamped its coaching scheme aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This updated initiative extends benefits to children covered under the PM CARES scheme alongside Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The scheme, originally launched during the Sixth Five-Year Plan, has evolved to remove caste and income restrictions for PM CARES beneficiaries.

Scheme Overview

The coaching scheme provides free preparation for various competitive examinations.
It includes Civil Services examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions.
Additionally, it covers recruitment tests for banks, insurance companies, and public sector undertakings (PSUs).
Students will also receive coaching for entrance exams for prestigious institutions in engineering, medicine, management, and law.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the scheme, SC and OBC students must come from families with an annual income of Rs 8 lakh or less. They must have achieved a minimum of 50% in their previous board examinations. PM CARES beneficiaries are exempt from these income criteria and the selection process.

Selection Process

The selection of SC and OBC students will be conducted online. Central Universities will review applications and create a merit-based shortlist. A total of 3,500 students will be selected each year. Of these, 70% of seats are reserved for SC students and 30% for OBC students. Furthermore, 30% of seats in each category are reserved for female candidates.

Financial Support

The government will cover coaching fees, which range from Rs 20,000 to Rs 75,000 based on the course. Students will also receive a monthly stipend of Rs 4,000 for up to 12 months. Those who pass the mains stage of Civil Services and State Services exams will receive an additional Rs 15,000 for interview preparation.

Implementation and Monitoring

The Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) will oversee the scheme in collaboration with Central Universities. Coaching centres will operate under the Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE). Each participating university must enrol at least 50 students and can offer a maximum of four different courses. Biometric attendance will be recorded, and monthly progress reports must be submitted.

Online Learning Management System

An Online Learning Management System will be established for monitoring and knowledge sharing. This system will facilitate faculty verification, attendance tracking, and the uploading of study materials and recorded lectures. Institutions failing to meet performance benchmarks may lose funding or be removed from the scheme.

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