More than 30% of economically disadvantaged students, who received complimentary coaching for engineering and medical entrance exams through a Delhi government initiative, have successfully gained admission to prestigious institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology, according to Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam. Speaking at a press conference, Gautam disclosed that approximately 13,000 students enrolled in the “Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana” in the last cycle, with around 4,000 benefiting from complimentary coaching for engineering and medical entrance exams.

Of these, 1,303 students have secured admissions to esteemed institutions such as IITs, NITs, Delhi Technological University, IP University, and others. The Delhi government allocates a maximum of Rs 1.4 lakh for the free coaching of these students, and each participant receives a Rs 2,500 allowance to cover miscellaneous expenses.

Launched in 2019, the scheme initially targeted students from Scheduled Castes and was subsequently expanded to encompass all Delhi students who have completed classes 10 and 12, with an annual family income below Rs 8 lakh.

Under this program, students can prepare for exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, banks, insurance companies, as well as medical and engineering pre-examinations. In the 2019-2020 period, 4,953 students benefited from the scheme, with the classes disrupted due to the Covid pandemic until October 2020.