Free Coaching Scheme for SC and OBC Students – Ensuring Good Quality Education for Competitive Exams

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Since India’s independence, empowerment of the marginalised sections has been a priority in the development agenda of the government. The Indian government has implemented numerous schemes and programs aimed at enhancing the skills and capabilities of these groups, fostering rapid economic growth, and ensuring their integration into the mainstream.

The journey to empower weaker sections began with introducing schemes like free coaching for Scheduled Castes (SCs) during the 6th Five Year Plan. Similar initiatives were soon implemented for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Minorities. To streamline these efforts and provide more comprehensive support, the government amalgamated these separate schemes into a unified program, “Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching Scheme for SC and OBC Students,” in September 2001.

With the establishment of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the scheme underwent further revisions in 2007. The minority component was removed, and other necessary changes were incorporated to align the program with evolving needs. The most recent update to the scheme occurred in 2022-23, reflecting the government’s ongoing commitment to empowering marginalised communities.

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Objective

The scheme aims to offer high-quality coaching to economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates. This will help them prepare for competitive exams leading to government or private sector jobs and admission into prestigious technical and professional institutions.

Eligibility Criteria

To ensure that the benefits of the scheme reach those who are in genuine need, the eligibility requirements for the Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC students include the following:

• The applicants must belong to either the Scheduled Caste (SC) or Other Backward Caste (OBC).
• The candidates must be enrolled in coaching institutes preparing for competitive exams such as the following:
  • Civil Services Examination (CSE)
  • Indian Engineering Services (IES)
  • Indian Forest Service (IFS)
  • Other Central and State Government exams. 
• The applicants must have a valid Aadhar number and a bank account linked to it. 
• They must have a combined family income of ₹8,00,000 or less per annum from all sources.

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Courses and Exams Covered 

The Free Coaching Scheme covers a wide range of competitive exams, including civil services, banking, engineering, and medical exams. The exams covered under the scheme include the following:

• Group A and B examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and the various Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs)
• Group A and B examinations conducted by the State Public Service Commissions
• Officers’ Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
• Premier Entrance Examinations for admission in the following 
  • Engineering (e.g. IIT-JEE)
  • Medical (eg. NEET)
  • Professional courses like Management (e.g. CAT) and Law (e.g. CLAT)
  • Any other such disciplines as the Ministry may decide from time to time
• Eligibility tests/examinations like SAT, GRE, GMAT, IELTS and TOEFL
• Entrance  examination  tests  for  CPL  courses/National  Defence  Academy  and Combined Defence Services.

Free Coaching for DNT Students under SEED Scheme

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Category-wise Ratio of Candidates

As many as 3500 students will be selected under this scheme annually. The details on category-wise ratio or percentage of candidates are as follows:

• In case of non-availability of adequate number of candidates in the SC category, the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) can relax this ratio. 
• The percentage of SC students shall not be less than 70%.
• In no case, less than 50% SC students shall be permitted.
• 30% of the slots shall be reserved for female candidates. 
• In the absence of sufficient numbers of female candidates under any category, male candidates from the same category shall be considered by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation.

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Implementation

The Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching (FCS) for SC and OBC students will be implemented by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) through Central Universities empanelled under the scheme. All Central Universities willing and capable of undertaking coaching for the indicated courses may apply to DAF that will review the applications and select those meeting the Ministry’s criteria. However, the already empanelled Central Universities under Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE) Scheme of DAF, which has been running the classes in 2022-23, shall not be required to apply in this manner. 

Their MoU can be renewed by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation by incorporating suitable provisions as per the amended scheme. The coaching centres run by the Central Universities shall be called Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE).

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Benefits 

All the eligible students will receive the following assistance under this scheme:

Admissible Payments

• Course Fee: A maximum of ₹75,000 per student will be covered.
• Stipend: The students will receive a monthly stipend of ₹4,000 for the duration of the course, which cannot exceed 12 months.
• Incentive: Successful students who clear the mains stage of Central or State Civil Services Exams for Class 1 or 2 posts will be eligible for a ₹15,000 incentive to assist with interview preparation.

Important Point: Administrative expenses will account for 2% of the scheme’s funding. This allocation will be used to create a learning management system, promote awareness, and support the scheme’s overall efficiency.

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Fee and Duration 

Course	Maximum Total Course Fees (₹)	Minimum and *Maximum Duration of Course (Months)
Civil Services Exam by UPSC/SPSCs	₹75,000	12 months
SSC/RRB	₹40,000	6-9 months
Banking/Insurance/Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)/Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)	₹50,000	6-9 months
Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)/National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET)	₹75,000	9-12 months
Indian Economic Service (IES)	₹75,000	9-12 months
CAT/CMAT	₹50,000	6-9 months
GRE/GMAT/SAT/ IELTS/TOFEL	₹35,000	3-6 months
CA-CPT/GATE	₹75,000	9-12 months
CPL Courses	₹30,000	6-9 months
NDA/CDS	₹20,000	3-4 months

*All courses will require a minimum of 16 hours of physical coaching per week.  The stipend amounts will be based on the actual months of coaching or the maximum prescribed duration, whichever is shorter. This applies even if the Central University provides extended coaching.

(Note: The students will receive all eligible payments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The fee and stipend will be disbursed in two installments of 50% each. The initial installment will be released upon commencement of coaching, and the second installment will be paid after 75% of the course is completed. The students are required to pay their portion of the institutional fee to the Central University within 15 days.

Also Read: Educational Pathways: Central and State Scholarship Portals in India!

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Empanelled Coaching Institutes

The government has empanelled a list of coaching institutes under this scheme to ensure that students receive quality coaching. These coaching institutes must meet specific quality standards and have a proven track record of success in preparing students for competitive exams. The empanelment process ensures that students get access to the best possible coaching without any cost.

• Selection of Institutes: The empanellment of institutes is done through a rigorous selection process, ensuring that only institutions with excellent credentials and success rates are chosen.
• Geographical Coverage: To ensure that the students across the country get the benefit from this scheme, coaching institutes in both urban and rural areas are empanelled.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: The performance of the coaching institutes is regularly monitored, and feedback from students is taken into account to ensure that quality standards are maintained.

The proposal for empanellment of new Central Universities will be considered by a Selection Committee, which will recommend these institutes for selection based on their physical and academic infrastructure and other requirements for implementing the scheme. The Central Universities willing to provide coaching will be selected by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation based on the recommendations of the Selection Committee.

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Fee and Duration 

The Central University shall publish the details in an advertisement inviting willing and eligible students to apply for free coaching. The students must meet the eligibility requirements and rank high in the merit list prepared by the university. The university will use its own established screening process to select eligible candidates. This process must be communicated to Dr. Ambedkar Foundation beforehand.

The proposal for empanellment of new Central Universities will be considered by a selection committee, which will recommend for selection based on their physical and academic infrastructure and other requirements for implementing the scheme. The Central Universities willing to provide coaching will be selected by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation based on the recommendations of the Selection Committee.

The Selection Committee will be comprise the following members:

• Joint Secretary, Scheduled Caste Development Branch, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment – Chairperson
• Financial Advisor, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment – Member
• Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education – Member
• Director, Dr. Ambedkar Foundation – Member
• Director/Deputy Secretary (Scheduled Caste Development – 1), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment – Member

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – Seat Allocation Guidelines

Each empanelled Central University will be allocated a maximum of 100 coaching seats. A Central University must have at least 50 students enrolled in the coaching program to ensure viability.

Course Offering

A Central University can offer a maximum of four courses from the list specified in paragraph 3 of the guidelines. Each course must have a minimum of 25 students enrolled.

Also Read: Top Class Education Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) Students 

Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students – FAQs

Who is eligible for the Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students? 

The students belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) or Other Backward Caste (OBC) categories who are economically disadvantaged and preparing for competitive exams are eligible for this scheme.

What are the benefits of the Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students? 

The scheme offers free coaching, a monthly stipend, and an incentive for successful candidates who clear the main stage of Central or State Civil Services Exams.

What is the maximum family income limit for eligibility? 

The annual family income should not exceed ₹8,00,000 from all sources combined.

Which major competitive exams are covered under the Free Coaching Scheme? 

The Free Coaching Scheme covers civil services, banking, engineering, and medical exams. This includes exams like UPSC, SSC, Railway Recruitment Board, IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT, CLAT, as well as eligibility tests like SAT, GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, and entrance exams for CPL, NDA, and CDS. 

Can the students from Scheduled Caste (SC) or Other Backward Caste (OBC) categories get free coaching for specific exams like CAT or GATE? 

Yes, the scheme covers CAT, GATE, and other competitive exams.

How are the coaching institutes selected? 

The government empanels coaching institutes based on their quality standards, infrastructure and track record of success.

How are students selected for the coaching program? 

Central Universities will select students based on their eligibility and merit.

What is the maximum number of coaching seats allocated to each empanelled university?

Each empanelled Central University can have a maximum of 100 coaching seats.

How is the course fee and stipend paid?

The payments are made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the students’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.

What is the maximum course fee covered under the scheme? 

The maximum course fee covered depends on the type of exams, for example, ₹75,000 for civil services exams.

Can I choose any empanelled coaching institute? 

No, students will be assigned to a Central University based on their location and merit.

Is there a minimum number of students required for a course to be offered? 

Yes, a course must have a minimum of 25 students enrolled for it to be offered.

What is the selection process for students? 

Central Universities will use their own established screening process to select eligible candidates.

How is the scheme monitored and evaluated? 

Answer: The government regularly monitors the performance of coaching institutes and seeks feedback from students.

What happens if a student fails to complete the course? 

If a student fails to complete the course, they may not be eligible for further benefits under the scheme.

Can I get the stipend even if I don’t attend all the classes? 

The stipend is based on the actual months of coaching attended.

What happens if I change my mind about the course? 

If you decide to change the course, you may need to reapply and meet the eligibility criteria for the new course.

What is the category-wise ratio for SC and female candidates under the Free Coaching Scheme? 

Under the scheme, at least 70% of the selected candidates must be from the SC category, with no less than 50% in any case. Additionally, 30% of the slots are reserved for female candidates, and if there are insufficient female candidates, male candidates from the same category will be considered. 

How many students are selected annually under the Free Coaching Scheme, and can the category-wise ratio be relaxed? 

A total of 3500 students are selected annually under the scheme. If there are not enough SC candidates, the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) may relax the ratio. However, the percentage of SC students must not be less than 50%.