Modi Unleashes Free Online Coaching for Youth, Targets Coaching Mafia Amidst Exam Scandal

From the historic Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a sweeping new initiative: free online coaching for youth preparing for competitive examinations. This landmark move aims to significantly ease the crushing financial burden on countless poor and middle-class families while directly challenging the pervasive 'coaching mafias' that have long dominated India's high-stakes education landscape. The announcement comes hot on the heels of widespread national outrage and student protests over alleged paper leaks in major entrance exams, thrusting the inequities of the current system into sharp focus. The burgeoning private coaching industry, a colossal market valued over 58,000 crore rupees, has long exploited societal pressure, with families often shelling out lakhs annually, sometimes forcing students to relocate to dedicated coaching hubs like Kota. These pressures intensified following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, which saw nationwide student protests and ultimately led to the resignation of then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In response, the government has already brought into force the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to curb such malpractices, and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has also been pushing for reforms to reduce reliance on coaching. The government plans to leverage India's robust Digital Public Infrastructure and a vast pool of talented educators to roll out this free online coaching, enabling students to prepare from the comfort of their homes. While specifics on implementation, covered exams, and enrolment capacity are still awaited, existing platforms like SWAYAM and PM eVIDYA offer a foundational framework. This initiative, coupled with plans to train one crore youth in Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills, underscores Modi's vision for a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) where technology democratizes opportunities and empowers the younger generation for future challenges.