Delhi Govt revives free coaching scheme for competitive exams

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi announced the revival of the “Mukhyamantri Jai Bhim Yojana”, aimed at providing free coaching for competitive exams to students belonging to marginalised communities, including SCs, STs, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs).

No limit on beneficiaries: Kejriwal

• The revived scheme will cover coaching costs for students preparing for various competitive exams, including engineering, medical, and civil services
• The government will also provide a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500 to assist the transportation and other expenses of students
• Kejriwal said, “We want maximum beneficiaries to take advantage of this scheme. There is no limit on the beneficiaries; this is not a scholarship scheme.”

During a press conference at the party headquarters on Friday, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal emphasised the importance of this initiative. “When I was in jail, the BJP didn’t leave any stone unturned in troubling people of Delhi. They halted many welfare schemes that directly impacted the poor,” he said. Kejriwal pledged to restore key initiatives and expressed his deep connection with the people of Delhi. “The citizens of Delhi are like family to me, and I cannot bear to see them in pain,” he said.

Kejriwal reflected on his own experiences with coaching, noting, “I remember how difficult it was to afford coaching for the IIT exam. If I hadn’t received that support, I might not have succeeded.” He stressed that intelligence is not determined by wealth, saying, “Even in poor households, intelligent children are born, but they lack the opportunities they deserve.”

The revived scheme will cover coaching costs for students preparing for various competitive exams, including engineering, medical, and civil services. The government will also provide a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500 to assist the transportation and other expenses of students. Kejriwal said, “We want maximum beneficiaries to take advantage of this scheme. There is no limit on the beneficiaries; this is not a scholarship scheme.”

Chief Minister Atishi supported the initiative, stating, “The Mukhyamantri Jai Bhim Yojana was halted due to a conspiracy to send Kejriwal to jail. But today, under his vision, the scheme is back to help the youth fulfill their dreams.”

Kejriwal said all pending payments to coaching institutes would be cleared after verification, allowing students to register and benefit from the scheme. He concluded, “Our children, especially from poor families, must flourish and contribute to the development of our country.”