Central Sector Scheme of Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students 


1. Background 

1) The empowerment of the weaker sections has been a priority area of ​​concern for the Government since independence.  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) w



as 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 scheme covers the following courses


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 candid huates in a particular category, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment can relax this ratio. 

6. Eligibility criteria for students


1) 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. 

2. 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 

(3) 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 thescheme.  Further, in case competitive exams for which the qualifying exam is at bachelor level, only students / candidates having completed the bachelor level course or studying in the final year of the bachelor degree course at the time of receiving the benefits under the scheme shall be eligible  . 

 iv) For such examinations which are conducted in two parts, Preliminary and Mains, priority in the selection will be given to those students who have at least once qualified the preliminary examination. 
 
v) Benefits under the Scheme can be availed by a particular student not more than twice, irrespective of the number of chances he / she may be entitled to take in a particular competitive examination.  The student will be required to submit an affidavit that he / she has not taken benefit more than twice under the Scheme.  

vi) The candidate shall be precluded from availing any other scholarship benefits of similar scheme of the Center or State Governments.  The candidate will be required to upload an affidavit indicating that he / she is not availing scholarship from any other similar scheme of the Center / State.  A list of beneficiaries availing the scheme will also be uploaded on the website of the Ministry and shall be shared with States / UTs to avoid possibility of simultaneous availing benefits of similar scheme by the candidate vii) Where the competitive examination is conducted in two stages viz  .  Preliminary and Mains, the candidates will be entitled for free coaching for both the examinations.  They will be entitled for free coaching upto two times each for Preliminary and Main examinations as per their convenience.  However, there will be no restriction in number of chances for coaching for Interview, if the candidate is selected for interview

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