Free Coaching Scheme for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic (DNT) candidates is running under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and the online application opens twice every year. Under this scheme, the government covers coaching fees and pays a monthly stipend so that DNT students can prepare for competitive exams without money problems.
The scheme is part of SEED (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs) and is handled by the Development and Welfare Board for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC). The board picks 1,250 students every year, and each selected student can choose their own coaching institute to get ready for a better job.
Free Coaching Scheme - Introduction
Free Coaching Scheme is made to close the education gap for DNT candidates. It helps them prepare well for competitive exams so that they can get a good job in the public or private sector. The scheme keeps a simple rule in place: every selected student has to attend a minimum of 16 hours of physical coaching each week to stay eligible.
The coaching support is given for a long list of exams. This covers Group A and B exams of UPSC, SSC and Railway Recruitment Boards, State Public Service Commission exams, bank, insurance and PSU officer grade exams, and entrance tests like IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT and CLAT. It also covers GRE, GMAT, SAT and TOEFL, along with CPL, NDA and CDS exams. About 40% of the total seats are kept for exams where Class 12 is the qualifying level, and 60% for exams where graduation is required.
The main aims of this scheme include:
- Giving good quality coaching so that DNT students can perform well in competitive exams.
- Raising the chance of getting a good job in the public and private sectors.
The money reaches the candidate directly through DBT payment to an Aadhaar-linked bank account. A student can take this benefit only two times in the whole study period, and no help is given to someone already getting a similar coaching benefit from any other central or state scheme.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Free Coaching Scheme |
| Level | Central |
| Beneficiary Type | Individual |
| Coverage | All Indian States |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Implementing Agency | DWBDNC |
| DBT Benefit | Yes |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment |
Benefits
Under Free Coaching Scheme, the coaching fee is covered based on the course you choose. The government pays either the actual fee of the institute or the prescribed limit fixed by the Ministry, whichever is lower. If the course fee is more than the allowed amount, the student arranges the remaining money on their own.
| Course | Max. Fee (₹) | Min. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| UPSC/SPSCs | 1,20,000 | 9 months |
| SSC/RRB | 40,000 | 6 months |
| Banking/Insurance/PSU/CLAT | 50,000 | 6 months |
| JEE/NEET | 1,20,000 | 9 months |
| IES | 80,000 | 9 months |
| CAT/CMAT | 60,000 | 9 months |
| GRE/GMAT/SAT/TOEFL | 35,000 | 3 months |
| CA-CPT/GATE | 75,000 | 9 months |
| CPL Courses | 30,000 | 6 months |
| NDA/CDS | 20,000 | 3 months |
Students also get a monthly stipend of ₹1,500 if they are local students, and ₹3,000 per month if they are outstation students. Those who have a disability of 40% or more get an extra ₹2,000 per month as a special allowance. The stipend is paid for the full course duration or for one year, whichever is less, and it is sent directly to the bank account through DBT payment.
The course fee is released in two parts. After selection, a candidate gets an open assurance letter with the fee details, and the first part of 50% of the eligible amount is released once the institute confirms admission. The student has to join the course within six months of getting the first part, otherwise the money has to be returned to the government.
Students from other groups can also look at similar help on this portal, such as the Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities and Free Coaching for SCs, OBCs and PM CARES Children Scheme beneficiaries.
Eligibility
To take benefit of Free Coaching Scheme, the candidate must belong to a DNT community. The total family income from all sources should be ₹2,50,000 or less per year. For example, if Rahul, a student from a nomadic tribe, has a family income of ₹2,00,000, he fits the criteria well.
The candidate must also have scored the minimum marks required by the qualifying exam of that competitive test. For a graduation-level exam, the student should be in the final year or have finished the degree. For a Class 12 level exam, the student should be studying in or have passed Class 12. In two-stage exams like Preliminary and Mains, priority is given to those who have cleared the preliminary exam once. The candidate should not be getting any similar scholarship benefit from any other central or state scheme.
Application Process
Application for Free Coaching Scheme is done only online on the official portal. The portal stays open for one month, two times a year, in the months of July and January. No offline application is accepted, and incomplete applications are rejected directly.
STEP 1 - Go to the official DWBDNC website at dwbdnc.dosje.gov.in and open the Free Coaching registration page on the portal.
STEP 2 - Enter your personal details, Aadhaar number and contact information in the registration form.
STEP 3 - Set a secure password for your account and fill in your residential and category details.
STEP 4 - Upload the required documents such as ID proof, caste certificate and DNT certificate.
STEP 5 - Review the whole application and submit it before the closing date. Rejected candidates can try again in the next phase.
Before applying, make sure you are only submitting documents under 200KB in size. If too many eligible applications come in, selection is done in order of the marks scored in the qualifying exam.
Documents
Keep digital copies of the following documents ready before you start the online form:
- Family Income Certificate
- 10th and 12th Marksheets
- Valid Disability Certificate (if applicable)
- Admission confirmation from the chosen coaching institute
- Proof of bank account linked with Aadhaar
References
Official Guidelines | Registration Portal | Candidate Login
FAQ's
What is the objective of Free Coaching Scheme?
The main aim is to give good quality coaching to DNT candidates so they can clear competitive exams and get a job in the public or private sector. It covers coaching fees and pays a monthly stipend.
Who runs this scheme?
The Development and Welfare Board for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC) runs the scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Are there attendance rules for the coaching?
Yes, each selected student has to attend a minimum of 16 hours of physical coaching every week to stay eligible.
How many students are selected every year?
The board selects 1,250 students every year, with 625 students in each of the two phases.
When can I apply for this scheme?
The application portal opens twice a year for one month each time, in the months of July and January.