Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs addresses initiatives to support Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) through digital literacy programs, special academic support for competitive exams, vocational training integration, career counseling, and skill development programs. NESTS coordinates with State EMRS Societies to implement these schemes. Initiatives include digital tutoring, establishment of Centers of Excellence, and skill development labs.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Digital Literacy and Future-Ready Skills:**
* Centers of Excellence established in Bhopal, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh for IIT-JEE and NEET preparation.
* Digital tutoring provided for NEET and IIT preparation by Ex-Navodayan Foundation and PACE IIT Medical.
* iHUB Divya Sampark Initiative establishes experience centers/labs in EMRSs.
* DTH TV channel delivers curriculum and competitive content for classes 9th to 12th.
* Smart classrooms enabled through collaboration with ERNET, MeitY.
* Skill development labs promote vocational skills.
* Amazon Future Engineers Program strengthens computer science education.
* SANKALP Project focuses on vocational skills labs and Training of Trainers (ToT).
* Cyber Security program aims at capacity building of teachers in AR VR and cybersecurity.
* **Coaching for Competitive Examinations:**
* MoU with NGOs for offline coaching for IIT-JEE/NEET through Centres of Excellence.
* Online teaching arrangements in place for IIT-JEE and NEET preparation.
* **Vocational Training Integration:**
* CBSE skill labs established in 14 selected EMRSs, with plans for 50 more.
* 26 Atal Tinkering Labs established, equipped with STEM kits, AI modules, electronics, and 3D printers.
* Instructions issued to State Societies and schools for selecting CBSE-linked skill courses.
* **Career Counselling:**
* Tribal Aptitude Life Skill and Self Esteem Hub (TALASH) by NESTS provides digital career counseling and aptitude assessment.
* Psychometric tests generate career cards and personalized career pathways.
* Portal includes Life Skills and Self-Esteem modules and E-Learning resources for teachers.
* Three-phase training program builds capacity of EMRS teachers to implement TALASH.
* **Skill Development Programs in Maharashtra (including Palghar district):**
* TALASH focuses on psychometric assessment and career mapping, implemented through national, state, and school-level training.
* SANKALP Project focuses on vocational skills labs and Training of Trainers (ToT).
* Vocational skill labs installed in 199 out of 200 EMRSs.
Impact Analysis:
* **EMRS Students:**
* Impact: Enhanced access to digital literacy, future-ready skills, coaching for competitive exams, vocational training, and career counseling.
* Action Required: Participate in provided programs, utilize available resources, and engage with career counseling initiatives.
* **EMRS Teachers:**
* Impact: Opportunity for capacity building in digital literacy, AR/VR, cybersecurity, and career counseling.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs, implement initiatives like TALASH, and support students' skill development and career exploration.
* **NESTS:**
* Impact: Responsible for managing and implementing the scheme of EMRS.
* Action Required: Coordinate with State EMRS Societies, establish Centers of Excellence, and implement initiatives like TALASH and SANKALP.
* **State EMRS Societies:**
* Impact: Collaboration with NESTS to implement EMRS schemes.
* Action Required: Coordinate with NESTS, select CBSE-linked skill courses, and support the implementation of digital literacy, vocational training, and career counseling programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs): A scheme to provide quality education to tribal students in India. These are residential schools established by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS): An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs responsible for managing and implementing the EMRS scheme.
IITJEE: Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination, a competitive examination for admission to engineering programs in India.
NEET: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, a competitive examination for admission to medical programs in India.
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: A city in Madhya Pradesh, India, where one of the Centers of Excellence for IITJEE and NEET preparation of EMRS students is located.
Maharashtra: A state in India, where one of the Centers of Excellence for IITJEE and NEET preparation of EMRS students is located and skill development programmes are implemented in EMRSs, particularly in Palghar district.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, where one of the Centers of Excellence for IITJEE and NEET preparation of EMRS students is located.
Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) Project: A project that focuses on establishing vocational skills labs and training trainers in EMRSs under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4776
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21/08/2025
SPECIAL ACADEMIC SUPPORT THROUGH EMRSs
4776. DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:
Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) the specific initiatives being implemented to promote digital literacy and other future-ready skills among
students in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs);
(b) whether any dedicated digital coaching or special academic support is being provided to EMRSs students for
competitive examinations such as IIT-JEE and NEET and if so, the details of such programmes and the number
of student beneficiaries;
(c) the status of integration of vocational training in EMRSs through establishment of Skill Labs and introduction
of CBSE-linked skill courses;
(d) the details of the framework for providing structured career counselling to EMRSs students and the
mechanism in place to track the impact of counselling on higher-education and career outcomes; and
(e) the details of skill-development programmes implemented in EMRSs in Maharashtra, particularly in Palghar
district and the number of student beneficiaries?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization under Ministry of
Tribal Affairs, has been established to manage and implement the scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School
(EMRS) in co-ordination with State EMRS Societies. To promote digital literacy and other future-ready skills
among EMRS students, following specific initiatives have been implemented in EMRS:
1. Establishment of Centers of excellence: NESTS has established three Centres of Excellence — one in Bhopal,
one in Maharashtra, and one in Andhra Pradesh — for IIT-JEE and NEET preparation of EMRS students.
2. Digital Tutoring: Digital tutoring for NEET and IIT preparation in EMRSs, where the science stream is provided
by the Ex-Navodayan Foundation and PACE IIT & Medical.
3. iHUB Divya Sampark Initiative: A joint effort by the Department of Science and Technology and IIT Roorkee
to establish experience centers/labs in EMRSs to benefit tribal students.
4. Dedicated DTH TV Channel in collaboration with CIET has been introduced in EMRSs to deliver curriculum
and competitive content to tribal students studying in classes 9th to 12th.
5. Smart Class Infrastructure: In collaboration with ERNET, MeitY, smart classrooms have been enabled in EMRSs
to enhance the learning experience.6. Skill development labs in schools to promote vocational skills and prepare students for future employment
opportunities.
7. Amazon Future Engineers Program- a significant capacity-building drive, undertaken in EMRSs to strengthen
computer science education to 178 teachers from 187 EMRSs.
8. Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) Project, which specifically
focuses on Establishing vocational skills labs and Training of Trainers (ToT) in Eklavya Model Residential
Schools (EMRSs) under Pradhan Mantri Koushal Vikas Yojna (PMKV) 4.0.
9. Cyber Security - NESTS has initiated a program that aims at capacity building of the teachers in EMRS in the
domain of AR – VR and cybersecurity, and empower them to further cascade these new age skills among EMRS
students and make them future ready.
(b) NESTS has entered into an MoU with two NGOs to provide offline coaching to EMRS students for IIT-
JEE/NEET preparation through Centres of Excellence — one in Bhopal, one in Maharashtra, and one in Andhra
Pradesh. The students have already been selected and have started their coaching. Arrangements are also in place
for online teaching to prepare the students for competitive examinations such as IIT-JEE and NEET.
(c) CBSE Skill Labs- CBSE skill labs has been established in 14 selected EMRSs, targeting to 50 more EMRSs.
Establishment of Atal Tinkering Lab- 26 labs has been established. Each lab is equipped with STEM kits, AI
modules, electronics, and 3D printers for hands-on learning.
CBSE-linked skill courses- Instructions have been issued to State Societies and schools for selecting two skill
subjects for the secondary level and two for the senior secondary level from the CBSE approved list.
(d) A career guidance system has been proposed through the implementation of the psychometric test-based
initiative named “Tribal Aptitude Life Skill and Self Esteem Hub (TALASH)” by NESTS for EMRS students,
designed to provide digital career counselling and aptitude assessment, inspired by NCERT’s “Tamanna”
initiative, and developed in consultation with UNICEF. It enables students to undertake a digital psychometric
test via a dedicated web portal, which then generates career cards and personalized career pathways based on
their aptitude in seven core areas. The portal also includes Life Skills and Self-Esteem modules, along with E-
Learning resources for teachers to support and guide students effectively. Additionally, a structured three-phase
training programme has been rolled out to build the capacity of EMRS teachers to implement and sustain this
initiative, thereby ensuring a supportive environment that promotes the continuity of tribal students into higher
education.
(e) Following initiatives has been taken for skill development in EMRSs:
1. Tribal Aptitude Life Skill and Self Esteem Hub (TALASH)- TALASH focuses on psychometric assessment
and career mapping, enabling students to gain personalized insights into their strengths and career paths The
program is implemented through a structured training approach conducted in three phases: national, state, and
school levels.
2. Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) Project- The program
specifically focuses on Establishing vocational skills labs and Training of Trainers (ToT) in Eklavya Model
Residential Schools (EMRSs) under PMKVY 4.0. Vocational skill labs have been installed in 199 out of 200
EMRSs.
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