Lok Sabha Question No. 2513 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Free Coaching for SC/OBC Students
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Chintamani Maharaj

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2513 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2024

## FREE COACHING FOR SC/OBC STUDENTS

## †2513 SHRI CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a number of schemes are being implemented by the Government to provide free coaching for preparation of Competitive Examinations to the economically weaker students preparing for IIT and UPSC and they are availing the facility of the said scheme by getting free of coast coaching, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Government proposes to provide free of cost quality coaching to the candidates belonging to the deprived Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) so as to enable them to qualify the competitive examinations and get jobs in Public/Private Sector, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the students/candidates belonging to the poor Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) categories under Ramanuganj, Balrampur and Surajpur in Sarguja Parliamentary Constituencies are likely to be benefitted by the said scheme, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether any such schemes are proposed by the Government, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

- (a) and (b): At present, there is no Scheme of the Ministry to provide free coaching for preparation of Competitive Examinations like IIT and UPSC to the students from Economically Weaker Sections.

However, the Ministry is implementing a scheme, 'Free Coaching for SCs and OBCs (FCS)' with an objective to provide quality coaching for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates (having family income less than Rs. 8.00 Lakh per annum) to enable them to prepare for the competitive examinations for employment.

Under the Scheme, 3,500 slots per annum have been earmarked and the ratio of SC and OBC candidates has been fixed at 70:30.

- (c) and (d): From 2023-24, the Scheme is being implemented by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) through Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE) established in empanelled Central Universities. As on date, 19 Central Universities have signed MoU with DAF. List of these 19 Central Universities is placed at Annexure.

Guru Ghasidas Vishvavidhyalaya, Bilaspur, a Central Universityis located in the region of Ramanuganj, Balrampur and Surajpur in Sarguja Parliamentary Constituency (State of Chattisgarh). However, the University has yet to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for becoming a part of the Scheme.

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This Annexure referred to in part (c) and (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no. 2513 due for answer on 06.08.2024 regarding "Free Coaching Scheme for SC/OBC Students"

|   S.No. | Name of Central University                                     |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Allahabad University, Allahabad                                |
|       2 | Manipur University, Imphal                                     |
|       3 | Central University of Tamilnadu, Thiruvarur                    |
|       4 | North Eastern Hill University, Shillong                        |
|       5 | Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala            |
|       6 | Central University of Kerala, Kasargod                         |
|       7 | BHU, Varanasi                                                  |
|       8 | Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh                    |
|       9 | Central University of Punjab, Bathinda                         |
|      10 | Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer                         |
|      11 | _Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Vardha   |
|      12 | Central University of Gujarat, Gandhi Nagar                    |
|      13 | Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, M.P.                |
|      14 | HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand                  |
|      15 | Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Central University (BBAU), Lucknow |
|      16 | Central University of Odisha                                   |
|      17 | Tezpur University, Assam                                       |
|      18 | Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Madhya Pradesh       |
|      19 | Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh                    |

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