Free Coaching for SCs, OBCs and beneficiaries of PM CARES Children Scheme

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment ๐Ÿ“ All India ๐Ÿ“Š Central ๐Ÿ• 21 Feb 2026

About this Scheme

To provide high-quality free coaching to economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and eligible beneficiaries of the PM CARES Children Scheme for competitive exams in public and private sector employment and admission into professional courses.

About This Scheme

The scheme named “Scheme of Free Coaching for SCs, OBCs and beneficiaries of PM CARES Children Scheme” is an Education Scheme by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The objective of the Scheme is to provide coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations for obtaining appropriate jobs in the Public/Private Sector and/or for securing admission in reputed technical and professional higher education institutions. The Scheme will be implemented by the Ministry with the assistance of Dr Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) through Central Universities empanelled under the Scheme.

Category-wise Ratio of Candidates

3500 students will be selected under this scheme annually.

Maximum Limit:

A total of 100 students per Central University can be admitted (excluding PM CARES beneficiaries).

Category-Wise Ratio:

The SC:OBC ratio must be maintained at 70:30.

Minimum SC Representation:

The percentage of SC students must not fall below 70%.

In case of non-availability of sufficient SC candidates, Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) may relax the ratio.

However, SC representation cannot be reduced below 50% under any circumstances.

Reservation for Female Candidates:

30% of the slots under each category (SC and OBC) are reserved for female candidates.

Relaxation for Female Quota:

If adequate female candidates are not available in any category, male candidates from the same category will be considered to fill the reserved slots

All willing/eligible beneficiaries of PM CARES Children Scheme would be admitted by the Central University irrespective of crossing the 100 slots allotted.

Benefits

Stipend

โ‚น4,000 per month (up to a maximum of 12 months)

Interview Incentive

โ‚น15,000 for students who clear the mains stage of Central/State Civil Services (Class I & II)

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

All financial benefits (stipend & fees) are transferred directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account

Course Fee Coverage are as follows:

CourseMaximum Total Course Fee in RupeesMinimum and maximum duration of course in months
Civil Services Exam by UPSC/SPSCsโ‚น75,000/-12 months
SSC/RRBโ‚น40,000/-6 months – 9 months
Banking/Insurance/ PSU/CLATโ‚น50,000/-6 months – 9 months
JEE/NEETโ‚น75,000/-9 months – 12 months
IESโ‚น75,000/-9 months – 12 months
CAT /CMATโ‚น50,000/-6 months – 9 months
GRE/GMAT/SAT/ IELTS/TOFELโ‚น35,000/-3 months – 6 months
CA-CPT/GATEโ‚น75,000/-9 months – 12 months
CPL Coursesโ‚น30,000/-6 months – 9 months
NDA/CDSโ‚น20,000/-3 months – 4 months

Eligibility Criteria

For students belonging to SCs and OBCs Category:

The applicant should be a student.

The applicant should be from Scheduled Caste or Other Backward Class.

The total annual family income of the applicant (from all sources) should be โ‚น8,00,000/- or less.

For the competitive exams for which the qualifying exam is class 12th, the candidate should have passed class 12th or be studying in class 12th as of the date of receiving the benefit under the scheme.

Further, in case of competitive exams for which the qualifying exam is Undergraduate level, the candidate should have completed the undergraduate level course or studying in the final year of the undergraduate course concerned at the time of receiving the benefit under the scheme shall be eligible.

Benefits under the Scheme can be availed by a particular student not more than twice, irrespective of the number of chances he/she may be entitled to take in a particular competitive examination and irrespective of the number of stages in the exam.

The applicant should not already be availing of the benefits of any other coaching scheme.

NOTE: A list of beneficiaries availing the scheme will also be uploaded on the website of the Ministry and shall be shared with Central Universities/Central Institutes to avoid the possibility of the candidate availing benefits of a similar coaching scheme simultaneously or more than twice.

For beneficiaries of PM CARES Children Scheme:

All beneficiaries of the PM CARES Children Scheme who have a certificate (with beneficiary ID) issued by the Central Government confirming their status as beneficiaries are eligible.

There will be no income or caste-related restrictions for such beneficiaries to avail of the benefits under this scheme.

Application Process

Apply Online

Mode of Application:

Applications must be submitted online only through the respective empanelled Central University.

Offline applications will not be accepted.

Notification & Advertisement:

Central Universities will issue public advertisements inviting applications from eligible candidates.

Official Source: View on myScheme.gov.in

Categories: Education & Learning, Social welfare & Empowerment

Scheme Benefits

  • Stipend
  • โ‚น4,000 per month (up to a maximum of 12 months)
  • Interview Incentive
  • โ‚น15,000 for students who clear the mains stage of Central/State Civil Services (Class I & II)
  • Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
  • All financial benefits (stipend & fees) are transferred directly to the student's Aadhaar-linked bank account
  • Course Fee Coverage are as follows:
  • CourseMaximum Total Course Fee in RupeesMinimum and maximum duration of course in months
  • Civil Services Exam by UPSC/SPSCsโ‚น75,000/-12 months
  • SSC/RRBโ‚น40,000/-6 months - 9 months
  • Banking/Insurance/ PSU/CLATโ‚น50,000/-6 months - 9 months
  • JEE/NEETโ‚น75,000/-9 months - 12 months
  • IESโ‚น75,000/-9 months - 12 months
  • CAT /CMATโ‚น50,000/-6 months - 9 months
  • GRE/GMAT/SAT/ IELTS/TOFELโ‚น35,000/-3 months - 6 months
  • CA-CPT/GATEโ‚น75,000/-9 months - 12 months
  • CPL Coursesโ‚น30,000/-6 months - 9 months
  • NDA/CDSโ‚น20,000/-3 months - 4 months