The Punjab government has announced free online coaching for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination and Punjab Civil Services (PCS) examinations, aiming to make competitive examination preparation more accessible to students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the initiative, which will benefit 1,000 selected college students across the state.According to an official statement, the programme will be implemented under the leadership of Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. Of the total 1,000 seats, 750 will be reserved for students enrolled in government colleges, while 250 will be available to students from private colleges.The initiative seeks to address financial and geographical barriers that restrict access to quality civil services coaching, particularly for students from rural areas and economically weaker sections. By providing online coaching and academic support, the government aims to extend structured examination preparation beyond established coaching centres in major cities.
Punjab government targets financial and geographical barriers to civil services preparation
Announcing the initiative, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said students should not have to abandon their civil services ambitions because of financial constraints or the absence of coaching facilities in their vicinity.“Every young person in Punjab carries a dream, and no dream should be held back because a family cannot afford coaching or a student lives far from a coaching centre. We want the children of Punjab to dream without limits and know that their Government stands with them,” Mann said, as quoted by PTI.The chief minister also linked the programme to the state’s broader education reform agenda, stating that the ‘Punjab Sikhiya Kranti’ initiative is intended to transform not only classrooms but also the future opportunities available to students.He said Punjab’s progress was closely linked to the advancement of its youth and reiterated the government’s vision of building a ‘Rangla Punjab’.
Harjot Bains says programme will provide structured academic support
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the initiative was designed to ensure that a student’s financial circumstances do not determine their chances of pursuing a career in civil services.“Behind every civil services aspirant is a dream, years of determination and often a family that makes sacrifices to support that dream. We want to ensure that financial circumstances do not decide how far a student can go,” Bains said, as quoted by PTI.He added that the programme would provide students from financially disadvantaged areas with access to structured preparation, academic guidance, and mentoring comparable to the support available at established coaching centres.The government intends to use the online format to reach students who may otherwise find it difficult to relocate or bear the expenses associated with classroom-based coaching.
Live classes, test series and interview guidance among programme components
The free coaching programme will include a combination of live interactive sessions and recorded lectures, allowing students to access learning resources through an online platform.The academic support will cover several components of civil services examination preparation, including:
- Structured live interactive classes and recorded lectures.
- Comprehensive study material.
- Rigorous test series for examination practice.
- Answer-writing exercises and evaluation.
- Personalised mentorship.
- Doubt-resolution sessions.
- Guidance for the interview stage.
The programme is expected to provide selected students with support across different stages of civil services preparation, from subject learning and practice tests to answer-writing and interview readiness.With 750 seats earmarked for government college students and 250 for private college students, the initiative places a larger share of the available coaching opportunities within the government college system. The announcement comes as the state seeks to widen access to competitive examination preparation and encourage more students to consider careers in public administration.(With inputs from PTI)
