Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities
Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities is a central scheme of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities that funds registered organisations to coach students with at least 40 percent disability for competitive exams. Students with a UDID card and family income up to Rs 8 lakh a year get free coaching plus a monthly stipend; they enrol through empanelled coaching institutes.
| Ministry | Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment |
|---|---|
| Benefit | Free exam coaching, plus monthly stipend and disability allowance, delivered through empanelled organisations |
| Maximum benefit | Coaching cost paid to institute plus stipend up to Rs 5,000 per month and Rs 2,000 disability allowance |
| Application mode | Offline (enrol through an empanelled coaching organisation) |
| Helpline | 011-24365019 |
| Official website | https://depwd.gov.in/ |
What is the Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities scheme?
Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities (SwDs) is a central sector scheme of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. According to the DEPwD, the scheme's purpose is to give students with disabilities good-quality coaching for competitive and entrance examinations, so they compete on equal terms for jobs and higher-education seats.
The scheme works by funding organisations, not by paying students directly for coaching. DEPwD empanels voluntary organisations, coaching institutes and similar bodies, which then run coaching batches for eligible students with disabilities. The government pays the coaching cost to the organisation and pays the student a stipend and allowance. DEPwD revised the scheme guidelines, with a revision notified in 2024.
Who is eligible for free coaching?
A student can benefit if:
- The student has at least 40 percent benchmark disability, with a valid disability certificate or UDID card.
- Total family income from all sources does not exceed Rs 8 lakh a year.
- The student has passed Class XII, or is studying in Class XII, as required for the course applied for.
A student cannot benefit if:
- The disability is below 40 percent, or there is no valid disability certificate or UDID card.
- Family income exceeds Rs 8 lakh a year.
- The student has already availed free coaching under this scheme for the same purpose (repeat benefit is restricted per the guidelines).
Because the benefit is delivered through an empanelled organisation, a student cannot claim the coaching cost as personal cash - the money for coaching goes to the institute running the approved batch.
What benefits does the scheme provide?
According to the scheme details published by DEPwD and its institutes, a selected student receives:
- Free coaching for the competitive or entrance exam, with the course fee paid by the government to the empanelled organisation.
- A monthly stipend - commonly Rs 2,500 for local students and Rs 5,000 for outstation students.
- A disability allowance of about Rs 2,000 per month to meet disability-related costs such as a reader or escort.
Exact stipend and allowance figures follow the current scheme guidelines, so students should confirm the amount applicable to their batch with the empanelled organisation.
What exams and courses are covered?
The coaching supports preparation for a range of competitive and entrance examinations, which typically include:
- Civil services - central and state.
- Banking, insurance, staff selection and railway recruitment exams.
- Professional and technical entrance tests, and other recognised competitive examinations, depending on the courses the organisation is empanelled to offer.
What documents are required?
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Disability certificate / UDID card | Yes | At least 40 percent disability |
| Income certificate | Yes | Family income up to Rs 8 lakh a year |
| Class XII marksheet / proof of study | Yes | Passed or studying in Class XII |
| Aadhaar card | Yes | Identity and stipend payment |
| Bank passbook | Yes | For stipend and allowance |
| Photographs | No | For enrolment records |
How to apply for free coaching
Students apply through an empanelled organisation, not directly to the ministry:
- Find an organisation empanelled under the scheme - DEPwD and its institutes (such as the national institutes for persons with disabilities) publish lists of organisations running free coaching batches.
- Confirm your eligibility - 40 percent disability with a UDID card, family income up to Rs 8 lakh, and the required Class XII qualification for the course.
- Submit your application and documents to the organisation - disability certificate/UDID, income certificate, Class XII marksheet, Aadhaar and bank details.
- Complete the organisation's selection and join the coaching batch; the organisation claims the coaching cost from DEPwD and disburses your stipend and allowance.
For an organisation that wants to run coaching under the scheme:
- Read the current DEPwD guidelines for Free Coaching for SwDs.
- Apply to DEPwD for empanelment when applications are invited, meeting the eligibility and infrastructure norms.
- Run approved coaching batches and claim grants and student stipends per the guidelines.
Help and contact
- Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: 011-24365019
- Official portal: depwd.gov.in
Stipend amounts, income limits and the list of empanelled organisations are set and updated by DEPwD, so confirm current figures and empanelled institutes on the DEPwD website or with the organisation before enrolling.
Documents required
Frequently asked questions
What is the Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities scheme?
Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities is a central sector scheme of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, that pays empanelled organisations to give free coaching to students with disabilities for competitive and entrance examinations.
Who is eligible for free coaching under this scheme?
A student with at least 40 percent benchmark disability, holding a disability certificate or UDID card, whose total family income from all sources does not exceed Rs 8 lakh a year, is eligible. The student should have passed or be studying in Class XII as required for the chosen course.
What does a student get under the scheme?
A selected student gets free coaching whose fee is paid by the government to the organisation, plus a monthly stipend - commonly Rs 2,500 for local students and Rs 5,000 for outstation students - and a disability allowance of about Rs 2,000 a month, as set in the scheme guidelines.
Which exams does the coaching cover?
The coaching covers preparation for competitive and entrance examinations such as central and state civil services, banking, staff selection, railways, and professional and technical entrance tests, depending on the courses the empanelled organisation is approved to run.
How does a student apply?
Students apply by enrolling through an organisation empanelled under the scheme, not directly to the ministry. DEPwD invites and empanels organisations, which then admit eligible students with disabilities and claim the coaching cost and stipend from the department.
Who is not eligible for the scheme?
Students with less than 40 percent disability, students whose family income exceeds Rs 8 lakh a year, and students who have already availed free coaching benefit for the same purpose under this scheme are not eligible. Individuals cannot claim cash directly - the benefit flows through an empanelled organisation.
Can organisations get funding to run the coaching?
Yes. Voluntary and other eligible organisations can apply to DEPwD for empanelment under the scheme guidelines and, once approved, receive grants to run free coaching batches for students with disabilities.
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