Chhattisgarh's Surguja district is set to become the first district in the state to roll out live online coaching for NEET and JEE aspirants in government schools, offering a cost-free alternative to private coaching institutes for students from economically weaker backgrounds. The programme, funded through the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Fund in partnership with the School Education Department, will cover 35 government higher secondary schools across the district.

How the Programme Works

Live online classes will be conducted simultaneously across all 35 selected schools, allowing students to access structured competitive examination coaching without relocating to larger cities. Five government schools from each block have been identified for inclusion, ensuring geographical spread across Surguja's tribal and remote areas.

In addition to the online sessions, Surguja Collector Ajeet Vasant confirmed that a select group of students from the 35 schools will also be sent to Raipur for in-person coaching, adding a further layer of preparation support.

Official Launch and Administration

The initiative is scheduled to be formally launched on 17 October 2026 by Rajesh Agrawal, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Dharmasva and Dharmik Nyas, at the Ambikapur Collectorate conference hall. The district administration has positioned the programme as a direct response to the financial barriers that have long prevented talented students in Surguja from competing on equal footing with peers enrolled in private coaching centres.

Why Surguja Needs This Intervention

Surguja has a sizeable tribal population and a documented track record of academic potential, yet access to quality competitive exam preparation has remained out of reach for most families. The cost of private NEET and JEE coaching — often running into several lakhs per year — combined with the expense of relocating to education hubs like Raipur or beyond, has historically shut out meritorious students from underprivileged households.

The DMF Fund, drawn from mining royalties levied on companies operating in mineral-rich districts, is intended specifically for the welfare of communities affected by mining activity. Channelling it into competitive exam coaching represents a pointed use of those resources for long-term human capital development.

Potential as a Replicable Model

District officials believe that if the programme delivers measurable results — improved NEET and JEE selection rates from government school students — it could serve as a blueprint for other districts in Chhattisgarh, particularly those with large tribal and economically disadvantaged populations. Notably, Surguja would be the first to test this model at scale within the state, giving it a degree of pioneer status in public education reform at the district level.

With the formal launch scheduled for 17 October, all eyes will be on implementation — the quality of faculty, consistency of connectivity in remote schools, and whether the student-selection process remains transparent and merit-based.