Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, announced that the government is moving towards providing free online coaching for various competitive examinations, aimed at reducing the financial burden on students and their families. The initiative will bring together digital infrastructure and experienced teachers to provide coaching opportunities to young people across the country.
The announcement was made as part of the government’s efforts to expand access to quality education and skill development. PM Modi highlighted that coaching classes can place a significant financial burden on poor and middle-class families, while students often feel pressured to join coaching institutes because of competition and social expectations.
“Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams,” PM Modi said during the 'NaMo for Viksit Bharat' programme.
He said the country already has the necessary digital public infrastructure as well as talented teachers who can contribute to such an initiative. The government plans to bring these resources together to create a wider network for free coaching.
“And therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various examinations for the youth. We have digital public infrastructure; we have excellent talent and teachers. By bringing these resources together, we are going to build a complete network to provide free coaching to the youth of the country,” he said.
The initiative is expected to particularly benefit students who cannot afford expensive private coaching. By shifting a part of exam preparation online, the government aims to make quality guidance available to students irrespective of their financial background or location.
The announcement also comes alongside the government’s broader focus on preparing young people for emerging opportunities. PM Modi has emphasised the importance of developing skills alongside formal degrees, including areas such as artificial intelligence and other new technologies. The government has also announced plans to train one crore young people in AI over the next year.
The free coaching initiative could therefore provide students with access to experienced teachers while reducing their dependence on costly coaching centres. Further details regarding the courses, examinations covered, teachers, platform and eligibility are expected to be announced by the government.
