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Government Free Coaching Scheme Enrolled Only 26% of Target in Three Years, Parliamentary Panel Finds

A parliamentary standing committee report has revealed significant shortfalls in the Union government’s initiative to provide free coaching for competitive examinations to economically disadvantaged candidates. Over a three-year span, the scheme reached only 2,790 students—representing roughly 26 percent of its cumulative target of 10,500 candidates. The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment tabled the findings in Parliament, pointing to reduced financial expenditure, institutional bottlenecks, and restrictive eligibility rules as primary factors behind the low participation rates.

What Happened

The report from the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, tabled on August 10, reviewed the Ministry of Social Justice’s annual target of assisting 3,500 students per year. Over three consecutive financial cycles, the initiative registered steep shortfalls. In 2023-24, only 223 candidates availed themselves of the scheme, rising to 2,136 in 2024-25, before dropping sharply to 431 candidates in 2025-26.

Budget allocations have followed a downward trajectory alongside enrolment figures. In 2023-24, the budget estimate stood at ₹47 crore, of which ₹7.76 crore was spent. In 2024-25, the estimate was reduced to ₹35 crore, with actual expenditure reaching ₹17.68 crore. For 2025-26, the estimate was brought down further to ₹20 crore, while actual expenditure was ₹7.11 crore according to the committee’s figures, though the Ministry stated in its action taken reply that expenditure reached ₹9.86 crore.

Despite failing to meet earlier targets, the Ministry has set an enrolment goal of 7,000 students for 2026-27 with a budget estimate of ₹20 crore. The parliamentary panel questioned this move, noting that it was unclear why the department doubled the previous target when earlier goals had remained unmet.

Key Highlights

  • Significant Target Gap: Over three financial years, the scheme admitted 2,790 candidates out of a targeted 10,500, achieving a 26 percent success rate against official enrolment goals.
  • Budget Contractions: The budget estimate was reduced from ₹47 crore in 2023-24 to ₹35 crore in 2024-25, and further reduced to ₹20 crore in 2025-26, with consistent underutilisation of allocated funds.
  • Income Ceiling Issues: The panel identified the ₹8 lakh annual family income cap as a major hurdle preventing eligible students from joining, noting the Ministry had not responded positively to recommendations to revise it upward.
  • Disparity in Screening: Candidates from Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) must undergo screening tests by Central universities, whereas children under the PM CARES for Children Scheme face neither the income cap nor screening exams.
  • Limited Geographic Reach: Only 14 Central universities have actively delivered coaching. Several empanelled institutions, including North Eastern Hill University, Central University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, and Central Tribal University, submitted no proposals for funding.
  • Enrolments by University: Among active universities, HNB Garhwal University enrolled up to 193 candidates, while Allahabad University and Manipur University took in 100 students each.

Why This Matters

The scheme was established to prepare SC, OBC, and PM CARES beneficiaries for crucial national-level tests, including the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment, State Public Service Commissions, banking and PSU officers’ exams, IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT, CLAT, SAT, GRE, TOEFL, NDA, and CDS. When operational challenges and restrictive criteria restrict enrolments, underprivileged students lose critical institutional preparation for public employment and higher education.

The parliamentary panel highlighted equity concerns regarding eligibility rules, observing that SC and OBC students have endured social and economic disadvantages over generations and should receive equal consideration alongside PM CARES beneficiaries, who face no income ceiling cap. The committee was also unsatisfied with the Ministry’s administrative explanations, pointing out that performance has remained depressed despite structural changes such as appointing the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation as the central nodal agency.

What to Watch Next

To address the narrow footprint of the programme, the Ministry has proposed proposals for the 16th Finance Committee cycle. These measures include bringing State universities and Dr. Ambedkar Centres of Excellence into the network, along with launching a student-centric delivery mode to improve regional accessibility and course variety.

The parliamentary committee urged the government to implement its recommended operational adjustments swiftly to ensure that the ₹20 crore allocation for 2026-27 is fully utilised. Attention also remains on the government’s separate commitment, announced during the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address following student protests regarding NEET-UG paper leaks, to roll out free online coaching for all students, for which an official roadmap has not yet been published.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Union government’s free coaching scheme?

The scheme caters to candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and beneficiaries of the PM CARES for Children Scheme who lost parents or guardians during the COVID pandemic.

What examinations are covered under the scheme?

The programme covers coaching for civil services (UPSC and State PSCs), SSC, Railway exams, bank and PSU officer selections, engineering and medical entrances (IIT-JEE and NEET), management and law admissions (CAT and CLAT), international eligibility tests (SAT, GRE, TOEFL), and defence tests (NDA and CDS).

Why did the parliamentary standing committee criticise the income criteria?

The committee observed that the ₹8 lakh annual family income cap excludes many prospective applicants. It urged the government to re-examine the limit and recommended treating SC and OBC applicants on par with PM CARES beneficiaries, who have no income ceiling cap.

Source: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment report, reported via The Hindu.