Congress questions Centre's new free coaching scheme citing poor performance record

The Congress party on Monday challenged the Centre's commitment to a new free coaching scheme for competitive exam aspirants, citing the poor track record of an existing Social Justice Ministry initiative. Party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh highlighted that the ministry had set an ambitious target of enrolling 10,500 candidates under its current free coaching scheme over a three-year period but managed to onboard only 2,790 students—representing just 26 per cent of the intended beneficiaries. The significant shortfall underscores implementation challenges that persist within the ministry's outreach and execution capabilities, Ramesh stated, raising questions about the government's ability to effectively roll out any expanded coaching programme. The Congress leader suggested the poor performance reflected broader issues with bureaucratic coordination and resource allocation within existing welfare schemes. Political analysts note that coaching accessibility for civil service and competitive exam preparation remains a contentious issue, with aspirants from economically weaker sections often unable to afford private tuition, making government-backed initiatives crucial for levelling the playing field across regions and socioeconomic backgrounds.