Every year, many candidates apply for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), one of the toughest exams in the country. However, numerous aspirants face financial barriers in accessing study materials,
coaching, guidance, and online resources. To support these candidates, several state governments have introduced funding and tutoring programmes. Here is a list of some of these initiatives:
Uttar Pradesh: The CM Abhyudaya Yojana offers free coaching (both online and offline) for UPSC, NEET, JEE, and other exams, with expert mentorship from IAS/PCS officers. Additionally, the state Dashmottar Scholarship, initially a post-matric scholarship, now extends support for UPSC coaching under specific criteria (OBC/SC/ST/EWS).
Delhi: The Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana offers free or subsidised coaching for competitive and entrance exams, including JEE, NEET, and UPSC, to General category students as well as SC, ST, and OBC candidates. The Delhi government covers 75% of the coaching fees, while students contribute 25%. Students with a family income of Rs 2 lakh or less are eligible for full fee coverage, with the grants being transferred directly to coaching institutes in two installments.
Odisha: The ‘Mission Akankhya’ initiative provides free coaching to a select group of civil services aspirants in Kalahandi district every year. The district administration will provide infrastructure facilities, while Vision IAS will deliver free coaching to 60 students annually, selected through a written test and interview. The coaching will be offered in both classroom and online modes.
ALSO READ | Success Story: 5 IAS Officers Who Failed In School, Later Cracked UPSC
Chhattisgarh: The Rajiv Yuva Utthan Yojana offers free UPSC coaching (both online and offline) for SC/ST/OBC youth, along with a Rs 1,000 monthly stipend.
Arunachal Pradesh: The CM’s Combined Civil Services Coaching Scheme provides free coaching and funding (Rs 2 lakh for prelims, Rs 3 lakh for mains) for APST candidates through empanelled institutes/NGOs.
Manipur: The Super IAS 500 Scholarship provides free/subsidised coaching for the top 500 aspirants, full coaching for the top 200, and partial coaching for the next 300.
Gujarat: The SC Coaching Assistance scheme provides up to Rs 20,000 or the actual tuition fee, whichever is lower, directly to the student’s bank account via DBT.
Maharashtra: The state UPSC scholarship offers Rs 10,000 per month plus full coaching fees to UPSC mains qualifiers (who failed once in the last three years), with an income cap applied.
Tamil Nadu: The Naan Mudhalvan Scheme provides financial and training assistance to UPSC aspirants, offering Rs 7,500 per month for ten months for prelims, Rs 25,000 for mains, and Rs 50,000 for interview preparation.
