Free online coaching for competitive exams will be launched on 10th September

Basavaraj Rayaraddi | Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.

The state government has decided to provide free online coaching for various competitive exams to eligible candidates under the ‘Mukhyamanthri Vidyarthi Sahaya Hasta’ scheme and the higher education department will launch the scheme on Thursday (September 10, 2026).

Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi said in a press conference on Wednesday, “The main objective of the program is to equip students to face competitive exams with confidence and without stress. Children of farmers and those from rural areas should not be deprived of the opportunity to appear in competitive exams. The Higher Education Ministry is introducing this program free of cost to help them secure government jobs.”

“The scheme is being implemented at a total cost of ₹ 9 crore for around 90,000 candidates and each candidate will be provided with three months of free online coaching through the selected coaching institute,” he added.

Free online coaching will be provided for various competitive exams including SDA, FDA, PDO, PSI and Gazetted Probationers (GP). Eligible candidates can get coaching for a maximum of three exams.

The training will include an online Learning Management System (LMS), study materials, online courses and doubt clearing facilities. Recorded lessons, multiple choice questions, mock tests, previous years question papers and question banks will also be available.

Eligible candidates can apply online through Seva Sindhu website and Grama One centers. Applicants receive a unique ID upon registration and can access the portal using a one-time password sent to their mobile phones. The system will also track attendance, participation, test performance and progress. A consolidated report must be submitted to the department every 15 days.

Coaching will cover general subjects like History, Geography, Indian Economy and Politics, Science and Environment, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Current Affairs, Kannada and English Language Skills and Digital Literacy. Exam-specific subjects and communication documents will also be included. General studies will be common for all preparations for competitive exams.

7.5% reservation for rural children

Mr. Rayaraddi also announced that the state government has decided to provide 7.5% reservation in higher education for students who studied in government schools and colleges in rural areas from class 1 to 12.

“15% reservation has already been given to students from rural areas in higher education, including admission to professional courses. However, students who have studied in private educational institutions are also availing this benefit. As a result, poor students studying in government schools and colleges in rural areas are deprived of opportunities. The state government has realized this and has taken steps to branch out this reservation,” giving 7.5% reservation to candidates who studied in rural areas.

He further said that the reservation will provide more opportunities for students to study in good medical and technical colleges and will benefit the children of farmers and children from middle and lower middle class families in rural areas.

Published – 09 Sep 2026 23:10 IST