Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, August 15, announced a free online coaching programme for young people preparing for various competitive examinations during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort in New Delhi. He said the move is intended to reduce the financial pressure on poor and middle-class families who spend heavily on coaching, while enabling students to prepare from home.
PM Modi said the government would draw on India’s digital public infrastructure and its pool of skilled teachers and educators to support the initiative. The announcement came as part of a broader focus on youth, alongside his plan to train one crore young people in artificial intelligence.
Coaching Costs Rise
PM Modi said the growing pressure to enrol in coaching centres had become a major financial concern for middle-class households. According to him, many parents feel compelled to send their children for coaching because they fear their children may otherwise fall behind their peers.
“Therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various competitive examinations for our youth,” PM Modi said during his address. He said India already possesses the digital infrastructure and teaching talent required to make such an initiative possible. The online format could also allow students to continue living with their families instead of moving to cities known for competitive exam preparation.
The government has not yet disclosed which examinations will be included under the programme or provided details about eligibility, registration, course content, languages and the proposed launch date. Clarity on these aspects will be important for students waiting to understand how they can access the initiative.
Free online coaching for competitive exams: Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji announces a major initiative from the Red Fort.
— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) August 15, 2026
Modi Ji understands what keeps a middle-class parent awake at night.
Competitive exam coaching costs lakhs and puts enormous pressure on families. The… pic.twitter.com/DMnMS0cF8n
Access Remains Key
Preparing for competitive examinations can involve several expenses beyond coaching fees, including books, test series, travel and accommodation. Students from smaller towns and rural areas may also move to larger cities to access specialised coaching, adding to the financial and personal costs of preparation.
A free digital programme could help reduce some of these barriers by bringing learning resources directly to students. However, its success will depend on more than simply making classes available online. Reliable internet access, affordable devices, quality teaching, regular assessments, study material and academic guidance will be important to ensure students can use the programme effectively.
The announcement was part of a wider set of measures concerning India’s young population. Modi also announced plans to train one crore young people in artificial intelligence through specialised skilling programmes. Both announcements underline the government’s emphasis on expanding access to digital learning and preparing young Indians for future opportunities.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Making competitive exam preparation available without a coaching fee could help students whose aspirations are limited by financial circumstances rather than ability. It could also reduce the pressure on families and give young people the option of preparing from their own communities. Yet affordability is only one part of the challenge. Students also need strong foundational education, transparent examinations, dependable digital access and meaningful opportunities after qualification.
The government’s next priority should be to explain how the programme will work and ensure that students from different economic, geographic and linguistic backgrounds can access it equally. Can free online coaching help create a fairer competitive exam system, and what safeguards would make the initiative truly accessible to all?
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