The Centre has not been able to effectively implement the scheme of providing free coaching to economically disadvantaged students appearing for competitive exams, a parliamentary standing committee report has noted.
Of the targeted 10,500 candidates to be enrolled for free coaching, the Union government could enrol only 2,790 students (26%) over the past three years.
In a report tabled in Parliament on August 10, the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment noted that the target fixed by the Ministry of Social Justice of annually extending free coaching to 3,500 students could not be achieved.
The report paints a bleak picture of the free coaching scenario at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech announced a rollout of “free online coaching” for all students, following the Gen Z protests demanding accountability over NEET-UG paper leak. The road map of the “free online coaching” plan has not yet been made public.
Poor uptake of free coaching scheme
The report noted that while in 2023-24, only 223 students were given free coaching, this service was extended to 2,136 students in 2024-25 and only 431 students could avail the benefits of free coaching in 2025-26.
The standing committee, in its report, noted that out of a budget estimate of ₹47 crore in 2023-24, actual expenditure towards the free coaching scheme was only ₹7.76 crore. Subsequently, the budget estimate was reduced to ₹35 crore in 2024-25 and the actual expenditure was ₹17.68 crore only, the report noted.
While the committee has stated that in 2025-26, the budget estimate was further downgraded to ₹20 crore and the actual expenditure was only ₹7.11 crore. In its action taken reply, the Ministry has stated that the actual expenditure during 2025-26 was ₹9.86 crore.
Preparation for examinations like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment, State Public Service Commissions, officers’ grade exams conducted by banks and PSUs, entrance exams like IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT, CLAT and eligibility exams like SAT, GRE, TOEFL as well as entrance exams for National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS) are among those covered for free coaching.
The scheme covers free coaching for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and beneficiaries under PM CARES for Children Scheme.
In 2026-27, the Ministry of Social Justice has fixed a target of enrolling 7,000 candidates for free coaching. On this, the report notes: “The committee does not understand the reason for fixing a target of 7,000, which is double the previous target, particularly when the target fixed earlier has not been achieved.”
Revise income ceiling, attract more candidates
The standing committee report noted that one of the major hurdles preventing candidates from availing the scheme is fixing a ceiling of annual family income at ₹8 lakh.
The committee had recommended that the family income ceiling should be re-examined, so that a large number of candidates can avail the facility and scheme becomes more effective.
The report also noted that even after the committee had given recommendations to re-examine the annual family income ceiling to increase the cap, the Ministry of Social Justice has not given any “positive” reply.
“The committee are principally of the view that the SC/OBC children should be treated at par with the beneficiaries of ‘PM CARES for Children Schemes’ as they have suffered not only economically but also socially since ages,” the report notes. There is no annual family income ceiling cap on candidates selected under PM CARES for Children Scheme for candidates whose parents or guardians died during COVID.
Scheme limited to Central universities
In its reply to the committee’s observations, the Ministry of Social Justice stated that the target of 7,000 slots has been proposed to expand the reach of the free coaching scheme and to ensure wider coverage of eligible beneficiaries across the country.
“At present, only 14 Central universities are actively imparting coaching, covering limited States, which has affected access and utilisation of slots. Therefore, expansion through State universities as well as Dr. Ambedkar Centres of Excellence and introduction of student-centric mode is proposed to ensure better regional representation, wider choice of coaching courses/institutes and improved utilisation of slots,” the Ministry stated.
Empanelled Central universities select eligible SC and OBC students through their own screening process, while beneficiaries of the PM CARES for Children Scheme are exempted from the screening process.
According to a reply in Parliament given by the Ministry earlier in February this year, of the 19 Central universities selected to impart coaching no proposal regarding funding candidates for free coaching were received from North Eastern Hill University in Shillong, Central University of Kerala in Kasargod, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha and Central Tribal University, Andhra Pradesh.
On the other hand, in HNB Garhwal University of Uttarakhand up to 193 candidates were enrolled while Allahabad University and Manipur University enrolled 100 candidates each.
The report stated that the parliamentary committee was not satisfied with the explanation given by the Ministry for the poor performance of the scheme such as limited participation by the Central universities and delayed proposals. “The performance has remained poor in spite of changes introduced by the Department (Ministry of Social Justice) over the years such as making Dr. Ambedkar Foundation as the central nodal agency. The committee noted that the proposal for the 16th Finance Committee cycle includes inclusion of State universities and introduction of student-centric mode for wider coverage,” the report states.
The committee has stated that the changes recommended with regards to free coaching scheme be made effective at the earliest to ensure that the budget estimate of ₹20 crore allotted for this purpose for 2026-27 is fully utilised.
