CHANDIGARH; 5th November, 2026: To make civil services preparation accessible to students across Punjab, the Bhagwant Mann Government will provide completely free online coaching for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination and Punjab Civil Services examinations to 1,000 selected college students.
The programme, spearheaded by Education Minister Harjot Bains, will cover 750 students from government colleges and 250 from private colleges. To build a Rangla Punjab, the government is extending the vision of Punjab Sikhiya Kranti to higher education and career opportunities, the initiative will remove financial and geographical barriers that often prevent talented students, particularly those from rural areas and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, from accessing quality civil services coaching.
On this, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Every young person in Punjab carries a dream, and no dream should be held back because a family cannot afford coaching or a student lives far from a coaching centre. We want the children of Punjab to dream without limits and know that their Government stands with them.”
The Chief Minister emphasised, “Through this initiative, we are opening doors that may have seemed out of reach for many students and giving them the confidence to aspire to become officers, administrators and leaders of tomorrow. Punjab Sikhiya Kranti is not just about transforming classrooms; it is about transforming the futures of our children. When our youth move forward, Punjab moves forward. We are moving towards buildinv a Rangla Punjab together.”
Minister for Higher Education Harjot Bains stated, “Behind every civil services aspirant is a dream, years of determination and often a family that makes sacrifices to support that dream. We want to ensure that financial circumstances do not decide how far a student can go.”
He added, “Through this initiative, a student sitting in a college in a village or a small town will have access to the same structured preparation, guidance and academic support as someone studying in a major coaching hub. For us, the real success of Punjab Sikhiya Kranti is when a student begins to believe that no aspiration is beyond their reach. This initiative is about giving that belief the support, opportunity and direction it deserves.”
Comprehensive Coaching and Mentorship Beyond Online Classes
The programme will provide selected students with a comprehensive academic support system throughout their preparation, going beyond conventional online classes. This will include structured live interactive and recorded lectures, study material, rigorous test series, answer-writing practice and evaluation, personalised mentorship, doubt resolution and interview guidance. Students will be able to access these facilities irrespective of their location within Punjab, enabling those from villages and smaller towns to prepare with the same structured support available in major coaching centres.
The initiative seeks to make specialised civil services preparation accessible to students who may otherwise face high coaching fees or geographical barriers. By extending government-funded support to both government and private college students, the programme will create a more equitable environment in which talent and determination, rather than financial circumstances or location, can shape a student’s opportunities.
UPSC Aspirants Say Free Coaching Will Ease Financial Burden
A UPSC aspirant from Fazilka for whom coaching is a distant dream said: “Civil services has always been an aspiration for many of us, but preparing for these examinations requires significant guidance, resources and financial support. This initiative gives students like us an opportunity to prepare seriously without worrying about the cost of coaching.”
Another aspirant from Tarn Taran who is a single parent child also welcomed the initiative, stating, “Access to experienced faculty, regular tests, mentorship and answer-writing guidance can make a real difference in our preparation. It gives us confidence to prepare and pursue these dreams and work towards serving society.”
The initiative is part of the broader vision of Punjab Sikhiya Kranti to extend educational opportunities beyond academic qualifications and create pathways to leadership, public administration and meaningful public service. By supporting 1,000 college students with free, comprehensive civil services coaching, the Bhagwant Mann Government will nurture the next generation of administrators and public leaders.
58,614 Students Enrolled Under Free PACE Coaching; 882 Government School Students Qualify NEET-UG & 64 Clear JEE Advanced
The Bhagwant Mann Government’s Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) programme is expanding access to free coaching for competitive examinations through academic partnerships with Physics Wallah and Avanti. 58,614 students are enrolled across Classes 9 to 12. This includes 3,110 students in Class 9 and 4,279 in Class 10 receiving foundational coaching, while 29,129 students are enrolled for JEE preparation and 22,096 for NEET preparation. The programme covers 24,950 students in Class 11 and 26,275 in Class 12.
The results from Punjab Government Schools reflect a steady improvement in performance in national entrance examinations: 361 students qualified JEE Main 2026, 64 cleared JEE Advanced 2026 and 882 qualified NEET-UG 2026. The NEET qualifiers have risen from 437 in 2024 to 847 in 2025 and 882 in 2026, more than doubling over two years.