Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students'
1. Background i) The empowerment of the weaker sections has been a priority area of concern for the Government since independence.
Free Coaching For SC And OBC Students
A number of plans and programs are being implemented to assist them so as to enhance their skills and capabilities for ensuring rapid economic development and integration in the national mainstream.
ii) A scheme for providing free coaching to students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCS) was started during 6th Five Year Plan. Similar schemes were also being implemented to provide free coaching to students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Minorities. With a view to ensure effective implementation and monitoring and to assist the students in a better manner, the separate coaching schemes for SCs, OBCs and Minorities were amalgamated and a combined Scheme, namely, 'Coaching and Allied Assistance for Weaker Sections including Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities was introduced with effect from September, 2001.
iii) After creation of a separate Ministry to handle matters relating to the Minorities viz. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Scheme underwent further revision in April 2007 for removing the minority component from the ambit of the scheme and to accommodate other changes deemed necessary at that point of time. The last revision of the Scheme came into effect from 01.04.2016.
2. Objective The objective of the Scheme is to provide coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations and succeed in obtaining an appropriate job in Public / Private Sector.
3. Courses for Coaching The courses for which the Coaching will be imparted shall be as follows:
i) Group A and B examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and the various Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs);
ii) Group A and B examinations conducted by the State Public Service Commissions;
iii) Officers' Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs);
Free Coaching For SC And OBC Students
iv) Premier Entrance Examinations for admission in
(a) Engineering (eg. IIT - JEE),
(b) Medical (eg.NEET),
(c) Professional courses like Management (eg. CAT) and Law (eg. CLAT), and
(d) Any other such disciplines as Ministry may decide from time to time.
v) Eligibility tests / examinations like SAT, GRE, GMAT and TOEFL.
vi) Entrance examination tests for CPL courses / National Defense Academy and Combined Defense.
4. Distribution of slots amongst types of competitive examinations 60% of total available slots shall be allotted to the courses for which qualifying exam is graduation (Bachelor's level). 40% of total slots shall be for thecourses for which qualifying exam is Class 12.
5. Category - wise Ratio of Candidates The ratio of SC and OBC students to be coached under the Scheme will be 70:30. In case of non - availability adequate number of candidates in a particular category, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment can relax this ratio.
6. Eligibility criteria for students Only students belonging to SCs and OBCs having total family income from all sources of Rs.8.00 lakh or less per annum will be eligible for benefits under the Scheme. However, SC / OBC candidates belonging to a Minority community shall not be eligible under this scheme and can apply under the similar scheme of Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Following guideline shall be followed for income certificate in the form of a certificate issued by Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar. Employed parents / guardians are required to obtain income certificate from their employer. Employed parents / guardians should obtain consolidated certificate from Revenue Officer for any other additional source of income.
ii) The students must have secured the minimum marks in the qualifying examination of the competitive exam for which coaching is sought, as prescribed in the said guidelines of the said competitive exam. However, if the student has still not appeared for the said qualifying examination, or if the student has appeared and the result has not been declared, the marks obtained in the Board / Degree exam just prior to the qualifying exam shall be taken into account. If the number of eligible applications received is more than the given slots, the selection will be done in the decreasing order of the marks obtained in the qualifying exams. (iii) For the competitive exams for which the qualifying exam is class 12th, benefits under the scheme will be available to a candidate only if the candidate has passed class 12th or is studying in class 12th as on the date of receiving the benefit under the
Maximum Fee And Minimum Duration Under The Free Coaching Scheme For SC And OBC Students:
Stipend:
Monthly stipend of Rs. 3000/- per student will be paid for local students for attending
the coaching class.Similarly, Rs.6000/- per student will be paid per month for outstation students.The stipend will be paid till the duration of the course or for one year,whichever is less.The stipend to each student shall be paid directly by the
Ministry through DBT.
Special Allowance:
Students with disabilities would also be eligible for Special Allowance of Rs. 2000/- per month towards reader allowance, escort allowance, helper allowance etc. having valid disability certificate (equal to or more than 40% disability). This will be in addition to the stipend mentioned in para 8 ii) above.
Process Of Application:
(i)The scheme will be widely advertised through electronic media etc. giving
summarized information about the Scheme. The applicants shall, after assessing their
(ii)The portal will remain open for one month twice a year i.e. during July, 2020 and January, 2020 for receiving applications.
(iii)The applicants will be required to upload their applications alongwith prescribed supporting documents.
(iv) No offline applications will be entertained. Only online applications complete in all respects, shall be considered for assistance.All the incomplete applications will be summarily rejected. However, the rejected candidates will have the option to apply in the subsequent phases of selection.
Selection Of Candidates:
(i) On closure of the application portal, separate merit lists shall be drawn up of
eligible candidates belonging to the SC and OBC categories, and within these categories
for both the levels of competitive exam mentioned in para 4 of the Scheme,by the IT system itself,based on information submitted by the candidates.
(ii) The applications will be scrutinized in the order of merit for ascertaining
eligibility.Those applications not found complete or if the applicants are found
ineligible will be rejected.
Important Links :
Read Official Guidelines
Apply Online
Important Dates:
The Last Date Of Submission Of Application Under Mode 2 Of FCC Has Been Extented Upto 30.09.2020
