PANAJI
The State government announced on Thursday that it will reimburse coaching fees for students from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
The State Tribal department has notified “Bhagwan Birsa Munda Lakshya Siddhi Yojana”, wherein 100 per cent coaching fees would be reimbursed to the students whose family income is up to Rs 8 lakh per annum and 75 per cent to the students whose family income is above Rs 8 lakh per annum subject to the maximum limit of Rs 3 lakh each for NEET and JEE.
The department has said that a total 300 students would get the benefit under the scheme of which 50 per cent students shall be allotted for NEET course and 50 per cent students for JEE. The student selection would be strictly on the merit list.
“If there are vacant slots after drawing the merit list then the candidates shall be selected from those students who have applied for the other course subject to a maximum total of 300 students seats,” the department said.
The scheme was announced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the State Budget 2025-26.
To avail the benefit under the scheme, the student will have to score at least 65 per cent in SSC examination and should be a regular, full time student studying in a Higher Secondary School that is recognised by Central/State Goa Board of Higher Secondary Education.
The Coaching institute through which the student desires to take admission has to be a registered body or run by any organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860/Companies Act, 2014 or any other relevant Act of the State.
The department has said that after availing the benefit under the scheme, the students shall be precluded from availing benefits under any other coaching scheme of the Centre or the State and will be required to provide a declaration to this effect. Also, the scheme will be applicable to online offline mode of learning.
