Free Coaching Scheme for SC, OBC and PM CARES Children
By Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
About this scholarship
The scheme guidelines (applicable from 2024-25) say the aim is to give good-quality coaching to economically disadvantaged Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Class students, and beneficiaries of the PM CARES for Children scheme, so they can appear in competitive exams for jobs or secure admission to reputed technical and professional institutions. 3,500 students are selected each year.
Coaching is for: Group A and B exams of UPSC, SSC and the Railway Recruitment Boards; Group A and B exams of State Public Service Commissions; recruitment exams of public sector undertakings; entrance exams for engineering (for example IIT-JEE), medical (for example NEET), management (for example CAT) and law (for example CLAT); tests such as SAT, GRE, GMAT, IELTS and TOEFL; and entrance tests for CPL courses, the National Defence Academy and the Combined Defence Services.
The National Scholarship Portal shows applications open from 3 August to 31 October 2026.
Who can apply
- Belongs to the Scheduled Castes or Other Backward Classes, or is a PM CARES for Children beneficiary
- For SC and OBC students: total family income of ₹8 lakh a year or less from all sources