On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment officially announced a transformative partnership with the Physics Wallah (PW) Foundation to provide free online coaching to 5,000 aspirants annually.

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale confirmed the initiative in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, stating that the programme targets students from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and beneficiaries of the PM CARES for Children Scheme.

The initiative aims to help disadvantaged candidates prepare for high-stakes competitive exams, including the Civil Services (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and various banking examinations, by providing top-tier digital resources and mentorship at no cost to the students.

Govt Free Coaching

This non-financial collaboration represents a significant shift toward digital empowerment for marginalised communities across India, including students in states like Odisha.

By entering into this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the PW Foundation, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is leveraging existing private infrastructure to bypass the high costs typically associated with premium coaching.

While the Ministry of Tribal Affairs clarified that no similar agreement has been signed for Scheduled Tribe students as of yet, this specific initiative addresses the urgent need for inclusive access.

The government’s move is designed to ensure that merit, rather than financial background, becomes the primary driver for success in India’s rigorous public sector recruitment process.

Merit-Based Selection

The programme is built on a structured, tech-driven model where selection is conducted through a transparent online portal based strictly on merit. Once selected, students gain full access to a comprehensive suite of resources, including live and recorded classes, previous years’ question papers, and high-quality study materials.

To humanise the experience, the PW Foundation will also provide personalised mentorship, doubt-clearing sessions, and career counselling.

“The objective is to enable eligible beneficiaries to secure employment and enhance their access to quality preparatory resources,” Minister Athawale noted. This holistic approach ensures that students from rural or economically weaker backgrounds receive the same guidance as those in urban coaching hubs.

General Category Not Included

Despite the praise for its inclusive intent, the announcement has sparked a significant backlash on social media regarding the exclusion of the General Category and Economically Backward Classes (EBC).

Critics argue that financial hardship is not restricted to specific castes and that many students from the unreserved category also struggle to afford premium coaching.

Viral posts have questioned why a merit-based partnership with a private entity like the Physics Wallah Foundation, led by Alakh Pandey, who many note belongs to the general category, does not extend its reach to all economically weaker sections (EWS).

This debate mirrors a broader national concern that educational safety nets should be based on economic need rather than social identity to ensure true equity for every aspiring student in India.

Exams Covered

The programme offers specialized coaching for some of India’s most competitive career-defining tests, specifically the UPSC Civil Services Examination, Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exams, and various Banking Examinations.

This targeted support ensures that underprivileged youth are equipped with the high-quality mentorship and structured materials required to secure stable, prestigious employment in the public sector.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

At The Logical Indian, we believe that access to education should be a right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford expensive coaching fees. This partnership is a commendable example of how the government can collaborate with digital innovators to democratise learning and foster social inclusion.

By removing the financial barrier to the Civil Services and other key exams, the state is actively building a more diverse and representative bureaucracy.

However, for this digital-first initiative to be truly successful, the government must also ensure that students in the farthest corners of the country have the stable internet and hardware needed to attend these live classes. True equality is reached when a student’s potential is no longer limited by their postal code or bank balance.

News in Q&A

1. Who exactly can apply for this free coaching?

The programme is exclusively for Indian citizens belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and beneficiaries of the PM CARES for Children Scheme. Additionally, applicants must meet a merit threshold (typically 50% or more in Class 10 or 12) and have an annual family income below ₹8 lakh.

2. Which exams can students prepare for under this scheme?

This partnership focuses on high-stakes national recruitments. It provides structured preparation for the UPSC Civil Services, Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and various Banking examinations. Some reports also suggest support for entrance exams like JEE and NEET may be included under the broader foundation umbrella.

3. What specific study resources are included?

Selected students get “premium” access for free. This includes live and recorded online classes, comprehensive study materials, a dedicated test series, and previous years’ papers. Crucially, it also features one-on-one mentorship, doubt-clearing sessions, and career counselling to guide them through the process.

4. How does the selection process work?

It is strictly merit-based. Aspirants must apply through a dedicated online portal (often hosted at coaching.dosje.gov.in). Once applications close, a merit list is automatically generated based on academic performance. There are also specific reservations, such as 30% of slots being held for female candidates.

5. Is there a cost to the government or the students?

No. This is a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Physics Wallah Foundation is providing the educational content and digital platform at zero cost to both the students and the Ministry, making it a unique corporate social responsibility initiative.