Now Reading: Parliamentary panel flags poor uptake of free coaching scheme
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Parliamentary panel flags poor uptake of free coaching scheme
Only 2,790 students have enrolled under the Centre's free coaching scheme for economically disadvantaged candidates over the past three years, against a target of 10,500, a parliamentary standing committee report has found.…
Only 2,790 students have enrolled under the Centre's free coaching scheme for economically disadvantaged candidates over the past three years, against a target of 10,500, a parliamentary standing committee report has found. The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, in a report tabled in Parliament on August 10, noted that the Ministry of Social Justice could enrol only 26% of the targeted candidates. The scheme covers preparation for exams such as UPSC, JEE, NEET, and bank officer exams.
The committee highlighted that a key hurdle is the annual family income ceiling of Rs 8 lakh, and recommended re-examining the cap to attract more candidates. Actual expenditure under the scheme has been far below budget estimates: Rs 7.76 crore spent against a budget of Rs 47 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 9.86 crore spent against a reduced budget of Rs 20 crore in 2025-26. The Ministry has proposed expanding to 7,000 slots in 2026-27, but the committee questioned this target given past underperformance.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The free coaching scheme, launched in 2007, has long struggled with low uptake due to the Rs 8 lakh income cap, which excludes many deserving SC and OBC families. In contrast, PM CARES for Children beneficiaries face no such ceiling. The Ministry's plan to expand from 14 central universities to state universities may address regional gaps, but the committee's scepticism about the doubled target for 2026-27 reflects a deeper issue: without revising the income limit or improving outreach, higher targets risk remaining aspirational. The Ministry must submit a concrete action plan, likely before the next parliamentary session.
Source: thehindu.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
