This document summarizes the Indian government's response regarding coaching centers for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, as of July 21, 2025.
The Ministry of Education clarifies that education is under the concurrent list, requiring State and UT governments to take proactive action regarding coaching institutes. Many States/UTs have already implemented guidelines, regulations, or legislation to regulate private coaching and tuition classes, as most operate as commercial entities under their respective jurisdictions. The Ministry of Education circulated Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centers to States/UTs on January 16, 2024.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, implements a scheme providing free coaching for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and beneficiaries of the PM CARES Children Scheme, for competitive examinations, including the Civil Services Examination. This scheme is executed by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation through Dr. Ambedkar Centres of Excellence (DACE) established in 19 empanelled Central Universities.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) initiated the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) scheme in 2009 to support students from Minority communities, SC/STs, and women. Select central universities, including Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Jamia Hamdard, and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, offer residential coaching for competitive exams, including Central/State Government services, banking, and private sector jobs. While no tuition fees are charged, nominal registration and hostel charges may apply.
The Department of Consumer Affairs, through the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), penalizes coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and mandates the discontinuation of such advertisements.
Key Entities Referenced
UPSC: Union Public Service Commission, the entity for which coaching centers prepare students.
Ministry of Education: The central government ministry responsible for education.
Free coaching for SCs, OBCs and beneficiaries of PM CARES Children Scheme: A scheme run by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, to provide free coaching for competitive examinations.
Dr. Ambedkar Foundation: The implementing agency for the Free coaching scheme, operating through Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE).
University Grants Commission UGC: An organisation that initiated the Residential Coaching Academy RCA scheme in 2009
Residential Coaching Academy RCA scheme: A scheme initiated by UGC to support students from Minority communities, SCSTs, and women by providing coaching for competitive exams.
Department of Consumer Affairs: A department whose Central Consumer Protection Authority CCPA imposes penalty on coaching institutes for making misleading advertisements.
Aligarh Muslim University AMU, Uttar Pradesh: One of the central universities where the Residential Coaching Academy RCA scheme is implemented.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 57
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Coaching Centers for Preparation of UPSC Examination
57. Shri Adhikari Deepak Dev:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the number of coaching centers authorised by the Central Government for UPSC exam in the
country;
(b) the details of coaching centers being run for preparation of UPSC examination, State-wise; and
(c) the action taken by the Government against unauthorised coaching centers, year-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (c): Education is in the concurrent list, the State and UT Government need to take proactive
action on the matter of Coaching Institutes. In order to regulate the Private Coaching and tuition
classes, a number of States/UTs have brought out guidelines / regulations / legislations. Majority of
these coaching centers spread across the country are commercial entities which need to be regulated
as per the law of the respective States / UTs. Ministry of Education has also circulated a Guidelines
for Regulation of Coaching Center to States/UTs on 16.01.2024.
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs
a Scheme namely Free coaching for SCs, OBCs and beneficiaries of PM CARES Children Scheme,
for imparting coaching for competitive examinations for obtaining appropriate jobs in
Public/Private Sector including Civil Services Examination and/or for securing admission in
reputed technical and professional higher educational institutions. The Scheme is being
implemented by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation through Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE)
established in empanelled Central Universities. As on date, a total of 19 Central Universities are
empanelled under the Scheme.
The Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) scheme was initiated in 2009 by University Grants
Commission (UGC) to support students from Minority communities, SC/STs, and women by
providing them with equal opportunities through specialized coaching. Launched in select central
universities—Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Maulana Azad National Urdu University
(MANUU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Jamia Hamdard, and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar
University—the scheme offers residential coaching for competitive exams, including Central/State
Government services, banking, and private sector jobs. The scheme does not charge tuition fees but
may levy nominal registration and hostel charges.
Department of Consumer Affairs, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposes
penalty on coaching institutes for making misleading advertisements and directs them to
discontinue such advertisements.
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