Free Coaching Scheme Statistics 2026: Spending Year by Year
· 1 min read · 1 official source
The Free Coaching scheme for SCs, OBCs and PM CARES children spent Rs 17.68 crore in 2024-25, up from Rs 7.76 crore in 2023-24, according to the Department of Social Justice annual report for 2025-26. The budget for 2025-26 was Rs 20 crore, of which Rs 5.84 crore was spent by December 2025.
Free Coaching for SCs, OBCs and beneficiaries of PM CARES Children Scheme: key numbers
Infographic
Free Coaching scheme: budget and spending by year
Revised estimate and total expenditure by the Ministry under the Free Coaching scheme (Table 3.6 of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment Annual Report 2025-26). For 2025-26 the budget is the budget estimate and spending is up to 31 December 2025.
| Financial year | Expenditure (Rs crore) | Revised estimate (Rs crore) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 14.98 | 30.00 |
| 2022-23 | 18.41 | 27.00 |
| 2023-24 | 7.76 | 14.82 |
| 2024-25 | 17.68 | 18.00 |
| 2025-26 (to Dec) | 5.84 | 20.00 |
Source: socialjustice.gov.in, as on 31 December 2025
How a student gets free coaching
What the numbers show
The Free Coaching scheme is part of the SHREYAS umbrella for SC students and is one of its smallest parts by money. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment Annual Report 2025-26 shows spending of Rs 17.68 crore in 2024-25, nearly the full revised estimate of Rs 18 crore. In 2025-26 the budget is Rs 20 crore, and Rs 5.84 crore had been spent by 31 December 2025.
The trend over the years
Spending has not grown steadily. It was Rs 14.98 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 18.41 crore in 2022-23, dropped to Rs 7.76 crore in 2023-24, and recovered to Rs 17.68 crore in 2024-25. The revised estimate was cut from Rs 30 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 14.82 crore in 2023-24, and in most years the Ministry spent less than the revised estimate.
The current guidelines apply from 2024-25, and students pay their share of the fee to an empanelled central university. The annual report lists the inclusion of PM CARES children among the scheme's achievements in 2025-26.
What the figures do not tell you
The annual report gives money, not student numbers. It does not say how many students were enrolled each year, how many finished the course, or how many cleared their exams. The 2025-26 figure covers only the first nine months of the year, so it is not comparable with full years.
Where to check
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment publishes the scheme's budget and spending in its annual report, along with the guidelines. Applications are taken on the scheme portal when the window opens each year.
Frequently asked questions
How much is spent on the Free Coaching scheme?
The Ministry spent Rs 17.68 crore in 2024-25 against a revised estimate of Rs 18 crore, according to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment Annual Report 2025-26.
What is the budget for 2025-26?
The budget estimate for 2025-26 is Rs 20 crore. Up to 31 December 2025, Rs 5.84 crore had been spent.
Has spending gone up or down?
It has moved up and down. Spending was Rs 14.98 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 18.41 crore in 2022-23, fell to Rs 7.76 crore in 2023-24 and rose again to Rs 17.68 crore in 2024-25.
Is online coaching available under the scheme?
The annual report says the Department signed a three-year MoU with Physics Wallah Foundation to give free online coaching to 15,000 students.
Who was added to the scheme recently?
Beneficiaries of the PM CARES for Children scheme were included on the request of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, without any income or caste condition.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: Free Coaching for SCs, OBCs and beneficiaries of PM CARES Children Scheme full guide
Charts, data files and the infographic are free to download, share and embed with a link back to this page.
Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- socialjustice.gov.in (socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/71441776233188.pdf)