Scholarship
Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities(FCFSWD)
Overview
About FCFSWD
Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities is a central scheme run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), which sits under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The stated aim is to help economically disadvantaged students with disabilities prepare for competitive examinations. The coaching is not delivered by the department itself. It runs through empanelled coaching institutions, which may be operated by central or state governments, universities, or registered private organisations that meet the conditions the department sets. Institutions are shortlisted by a selection committee and finally chosen by the department.
The examinations covered are wide. They include the civil services and staff selection tests conducted by the UPSC, SSC and Railway Recruitment Boards, state public service commissions, banking recruitment through the IBPS, and entrance tests for professional courses such as JEE for engineering, NEET for medicine, CAT for management and CLAT for law.
The benefit is in kind rather than a cash grant. A student admitted to an empanelled centre receives the coaching free of cost, along with a monthly stipend and a disability allowance while the training runs. It is meant for candidates who carry a recognised minimum degree of disability and come from families below a set income level, so it reaches students who face both a disability and financial constraints when preparing for these exams.
Sources: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) – Guidelines for the Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities (SwD) scheme · myScheme – Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment
Central Government
Department Of Empowerment Of Persons With Disabilities
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | In Kind |
| Application mode | Offline |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| Students | The student must have a minimum of 40% disability. |
| Students | The student must be preparing for competitive examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), various Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) for Group 'A' and 'B' posts, State Public Service Commissions for Group 'A' and 'B' posts, and other competitive examinations for admission in higher educational institutions and jobs. |
| Students | Student family income should not be more than ₹ 6,00,000/- per annum. |
| Students | Student can avail the benefits only at once. |
| Students | Student should not avail any other similar scheme benefits from Central Government. |
| Voluntary organizations | The voluntary organization must be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, or relevant Act of the State/Union Territory. |
| Voluntary organizations | The voluntary organization must have been in existence for at least three years. |
| Voluntary organizations | The voluntary organization must have the necessary infrastructure and experience to provide coaching to students with disabilities. |
What you get
Award & benefits
- It provides free coaching to students with disabilities for competitive examinations.
- It helps students with disabilities to improve their academic performance and to compete effectively in competitive examinations.
- It increases the chances of students with disabilities getting admission in higher educational institutions and finding jobs.
- It helps to empower students with disabilities and to improve their quality of life.
- Financial Assistance: monthly stipend : ₹ 2,500/- ( for Local students) and ₹ 5,000/- ( for out station students).
What to prepare
Documents required
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply offline
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
FCFSWD – FAQ
Disclaimer
Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.