Padho Pardesh 2026

This scheme offers free, high-quality coaching for competitive exams and professional course admissions to economically weaker Scheduled Read More... Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and children registered under the PM CARES Children Scheme. Read less

Details

Are you an SC or OBC student looking to crack tough competitive exams or get into a top professional college? Or perhaps a beneficiary of the PM CARES Children Scheme aiming for a bright future? The government has a special scheme designed just for you!

What Is This Scheme?

This is a special initiative by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its main goal is to provide top-notch coaching to students from SC and OBC communities who come from less privileged backgrounds. The coaching is meant to help them perform well in competitive exams for jobs in government and private sectors, and also to secure a seat in good technical and professional higher education institutions. Beneficiaries of the PM CARES Children Scheme can also avail of this opportunity.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The scheme primarily targets students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) whose annual family income is up to ₹8,00,000. It also extends its support to all eligible beneficiaries of the PM CARES Children Scheme, regardless of their income or caste, provided they have a valid certificate confirming their status.

Why This Scheme Is Important

In today's competitive world, good coaching can make a huge difference in a student's career. This scheme aims to level the playing field by providing access to quality education and preparation resources to students who might otherwise not afford it. It's a significant step towards ensuring equal opportunities for all.

Objective

This scheme offers free, high-quality coaching for competitive exams and professional course admissions to economically weaker Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and children registered under the PM CARES Children Scheme.

Benefits

Financial assistance:The scheme provides an interest subsidy on education loans, which can help to reduce the cost of overseas education for minority students.

Increased access to education:The scheme makes overseas education more accessible to minority students from all backgrounds, regardless of their financial situation.

Improved employability:Studying abroad can give students a competitive edge in the job market, and the Padho Pardesh scheme can help minority students to achieve their career goals.

Personal and professional development:Studying abroad can be a transformative experience, and the Padho Pardesh scheme can help minority students to develop their skills and knowledge in a global context.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

For students belonging to SCs and OBCs:

You must be a student.
You should belong to a Scheduled Caste (SC) or Other Backward Class (OBC) community.
Your total annual family income from all sources should not exceed ₹8,00,000.
For exams where Class 12th is the qualifying level: You must have passed Class 12th or be studying in Class 12th at the time of receiving benefits.
For exams where Undergraduate level is the qualifying level: You must have completed your undergraduate course or be in your final year of the undergraduate course at the time of receiving benefits.
You can receive benefits under this scheme a maximum of two times, regardless of how many attempts you have in an exam or how many stages it has.
You should not be already benefiting from any other similar coaching scheme run by the government.

Note: A list of beneficiaries will be published online to prevent duplicates.

For beneficiaries of PM CARES Children Scheme:

You must have a valid certificate (with beneficiary ID) from the Central Government confirming your status.
There are no income or caste restrictions for you to benefit from this scheme.

How To Apply

Central Universities empanelled under the scheme will release advertisements inviting eligible students to apply.
Applications are accepted only through the online mode.
The selection will be based on a merit list prepared by the institution.
For more details and to check for empanelled universities, you can visit the official website of the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF). The exact application link will be provided in the university's advertisement.

Documents Required

Passport Size Photograph
Aadhaar Card (or EID number if Aadhaar is not yet available; payment will be processed only after Aadhaar is obtained and linked to your bank account)
Income Certificate (for SC/OBC candidates)
Caste Certificate (for SC/OBC candidates)
Residence Proof
Age Proof
ID Card
Details of your Aadhaar-linked Bank Account
Marksheet of Class 10th (if Class 12th is the qualifying exam)
Marksheet of Class 12th (if Undergraduate level is the qualifying exam)
A declaration stating you have not availed benefits more than twice under this or any other similar government coaching scheme.
A declaration confirming you are not currently receiving benefits from any other Central or State government coaching scheme.

Note on Income Proof: For self-employed parents/guardians, the income certificate should be issued by a Revenue Officer (not below the rank of Tehsildar). For employed parents/guardians, an income certificate from their employer, along with a consolidated certificate from the Revenue Officer detailing any other income sources, is required.

Official Sources

For detailed guidelines and updates, please refer to the official website of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF).

FAQ’s

Who is responsible for running this 'Free Coaching Scheme'?

The scheme is managed by the Ministry itself, with support from the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF). They work through selected Central Universities that are part of the scheme.

What's the income ceiling for SC and OBC students to apply?

Students from SC and OBC categories are eligible if their total annual family income from all sources is ₹8,00,000 or less.

How can students get their coaching fees and stipends?

All financial help, including stipends and course fees, is paid directly to the student's Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

What if a Central University doesn't have enough students to fill its coaching slots?

If a university has fewer students than its allocated slots, with agreement from both universities and the student, they can be transferred to other institutions that have space.

Can universities admit students even if they exceed the 100-student limit?

Yes, universities can admit students beyond the 100-student quota, particularly for PM CARES beneficiaries. However, the Ministry will not provide funding for these extra students.

What is the minimum duration for the coaching programs?

The minimum duration for coaching courses varies depending on the specific course. The detailed durations are outlined in Annexure-A of the official guidelines.

How are the Central Universities chosen to offer this coaching?

Interested and capable Central Universities apply online to DAF. A Selection Committee then reviews these applications based on criteria set by the Ministry to decide which universities get empanelled.

What happens if a student stops attending coaching without a valid reason?

Central Universities keep track of student attendance using Aadhaar-based biometrics and share this data with DAF. If a student is absent without good reason, their candidature might be cancelled.

What is the role of the Selection Committee in picking the universities?

The Selection Committee evaluates the applications from Central Universities and recommends those that have the necessary infrastructure and meet the requirements for successfully running the scheme.

How often are the agreements with universities renewed?

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Central Universities is initially for three years. It can be renewed based on their performance and their continued willingness to participate.

How does the scheme ensure quality and coordination among universities?

The Ministry, along with DAF, keeps an eye on the scheme by getting regular reports from universities and conducting on-site checks. DAF is also setting up an online system for knowledge sharing.

Is having an Aadhaar card absolutely necessary for the application?

Yes, a valid Aadhaar number is crucial because all payments are made to the student's Aadhaar-seeded bank account. If you don't have one yet, you can use your EID number temporarily.

What are the basic requirements for SC and OBC students to apply?

SC and OBC students must be from the respective categories, have a family income of ₹8 lakh or less annually, and meet the educational qualifications for the competitive exam or course they are aiming for (either passed or studying in the qualifying year).

Who is eligible from the PM CARES Children Scheme?

All children who are beneficiaries of the PM CARES Children Scheme and possess a valid certificate (with beneficiary ID) issued by the Central Government are eligible. They don't need to meet income or caste criteria.

How are students selected for the coaching programs?

Central Universities advertise the scheme and invite applications. They then prepare a merit list based on the applications received and select students accordingly.