PM CARES Scheme Now Offers Free Coaching for Competitive Exams

On February 20, the government updated the PM CARES scheme to provide free coaching to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Class (OBC) students, as well as children covered under the PM CARES scheme. Initially launched during the sixth Five-Year Plan, this free coaching initiative has undergone several revisions in recent years to improve its effectiveness. As part of the update, beneficiaries of the PM CARES scheme will now also be eligible for this benefit, and the caste and income-related criteria have been removed for this category of students.

Key Details:

• Coaching will be provided for various competitive exams, including Civil Services Exams conducted by UPSC and State Public Service Commissions.
• Coaching for exams related to banks, insurance companies, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) will also be included.
• The scheme will cover entrance exams for major institutions in fields like Engineering (IIT-JEE), Medical (NEET), Management (CAT), and Law (CLAT).
• Students interested in international studies will also receive coaching for standardized exams.
• 3,500 students will be selected annually under this scheme, with 70% of seats reserved for SC students and 30% for OBC students.
• 30% of seats in each category will be reserved for female candidates. If there are insufficient female applicants, the remaining seats will be filled by male candidates from the same category.
• There is no limit on the number of students from the PM CARES category who can benefit from this scheme.