PM Modi announces free online coaching plan for competitive exams

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government was moving towards providing free online coaching for competitive examinations to reduce the financial burden on poor and middle-class families. He also stressed skills, artificial intelligence and education reforms at a Vadodara event

Vadodara (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the government was working to reduce the burden of coaching fees on families of students preparing for competitive examinations by providing free online coaching.

Speaking at the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ programme here, where he inaugurated or laid the foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 35,000 crore, the PM referred to the announcement he had made in this regard during his August 15 Red Fort speech.

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“You are aware that lakhs of young people prepare for competitive examinations. Every year, a significant portion of our families’ earnings is spent on coaching for these students,” Modi said.

“We aim to save money for the families of poor and middle-class students. Consequently, the government is moving towards providing free online coaching, allowing our youth to prepare under the guidance of India’s best teachers. The government itself will oversee this coaching arrangement,” he added.

Changing global needs had also changed the approach to education, with skills being given equal importance alongside degrees, the prime minister noted.

Hence, the government was reshaping education policy and institutions, he said.

Artificial intelligence expertise would not be limited to the IT sector and could be used in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and robotics startups, he noted.

India was witnessing an “extraordinary era”, Modi said, and called upon the youth to prioritise the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.