UP govt receives 1,476 applications for free civil services coaching this year

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): As many as 1,476 students have applied for free coaching for civil services examinations this year compared to 960 last year, registering a increase of more than one and a half times in the fifth session of coaching to be held at Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan.

The institute received applications for admission to free civil services coaching online from August 1 till August 31.

The applicants will now have to write an entrance exam for the fifth session on September 26 and 27, which will be followed by interviews of the shortlisted candidates. The fifth session of coaching for civil services aspirants is set to begin in October.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the initiative to fulfil the aspirations of a large number of disadvantaged youths in Uttar Pradesh, who could not afford coaching for civil services exams.

Over the last four years, as many as 13 candidates, who availed coaching and guidance through the initiative by the Yogi Adityanath government, cracked the state civil services exam in UP and were appointed to senior posts, ranging from deputy collectors to deputy superintendents of police.

Another 19 candidates were selected for various subordinate services.

According to an official release, students who cleared the preliminary test of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) Examination 2023, will earn direct admission to the government's coaching facility.

The state government, according to the release, also seeks to promote Sanskrit through the coaching initiative by linking it with jobs. According to the release, the students are not only learning Sanskrit but also showing an interest in jobs associated with the language.

There is a growing demand for Sanskrit in the field of civil services, it added.

Further, a large number of youths from all over the country are learning Sanskrit online, the release stated, adding that the chief minister's initiative is not only benefiting the state's youth but also those of other states.

Vinay Shrivastav, the director of Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan, said in line with the CM's vision to promote Sanskrit and make the language employment-oriented, the department has been organising the flagship programme — Free Civil Services Coaching and Training Guidance — for the last four years.

The fifth session of the training and guidance programme is of 10 months duration and the training is to be imparted in three phases. Expert instructors impart lessons in grammar, linguistics, philosophy, epics, Sanskrit drama, Sanskrit prose, and poetry, among others.

Candidates, who have passed the bachelor's degree examination or equivalent examination from a UGC-recognised university and are between the ages of 21 to 35, are eligible for this programme.

In the entrance exam, candidates will be asked objective questions based on general studies and general Sanskrit knowledge, consisting of 100 questions in Sanskrit and Hindi and 85 questions in general studies, along with 15 questions related to general knowledge, grammar, and literature in Sanskrit.

Additionally, candidates, who chose Sanskrit as an optional subject in the preliminary exams of UPSC and State Public Service Commissions for the 2022-23 session, will be directly admitted. However, the maximum number of such candidates will remain at 13.

Further, candidates availing free coaching for civil services are also given a scholarship of Rs 3,000. They are required to have a minimum of 75 per cent attendance in their classes, and their monthly progress reports will be assessed.

Additionally, candidates will be provided with free study materials for Sanskrit literature and general studies. So far, a total of 200 students have availed free coaching for civil services through this programme. (ANI)