PM Modi Announces Free Online Coaching for Competitive Exams

Published: Saturday, August 15, 2026, 10:33 [IST]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Independence Day 2026 address from the Red Fort, announced a major education-focused initiative to provide free online coaching for competitive examinations. The move is aimed at helping students from poor and middle-income families who face financial difficulties in accessing private coaching.

PM Modi Announces Free Online Coaching — PTI Images

The announcement was part of a series of measures focused on India's youth, education, technology and sports. PM Modi also announced a plan to train 1 crore young people in Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the next year and launch a nationwide sports talent identification campaign for children aged 5 to 15 years.

Free Online Coaching to Support Competitive Exam Aspirants

The proposed free online coaching initiative is intended to make competitive-exam preparation more accessible to students across the country. Many aspirants depend on private coaching institutes to prepare for entrance and recruitment examinations, which can involve substantial expenses.

By offering coaching through online platforms, the initiative aims to provide students with access to preparation resources without requiring them to spend heavily on coaching or relocate to major education centres.

Further details regarding the examinations covered, eligibility criteria, registration process and online learning platform are expected to be announced separately by the government.

PM Modi Announces AI Training for 1 Crore Youth

In another major announcement, PM Modi said that 1 crore youth will be trained in Artificial Intelligence over the next year.

The initiative is expected to strengthen technology-related skills among young Indians and prepare them for emerging opportunities in the digital economy. AI is increasingly being used across sectors, including education, healthcare, manufacturing, finance and information technology.

The proposed nationwide training programme is expected to give young people opportunities to develop skills relevant to the changing employment landscape.

Nationwide Sports Talent Hunt Campaign Announced

The Prime Minister also announced a nationwide Sports Talent Hunt campaign to identify talented young athletes across India.

The campaign will focus on children between 5 and 15 years old and will cover both rural and urban areas. The objective is to identify sporting talent at an early stage and provide promising athletes with opportunities to develop their abilities.

The initiative is expected to expand the search for sporting talent beyond established training centres and major cities.

PM Modi Highlights Growth in Higher Education

During his Independence Day speech, PM Modi also highlighted the expansion of India's higher education infrastructure.

He said that the country had added around 650 universities over the past decade, compared with fewer than 350 universities between 2004 and 2014. The Prime Minister cited the expansion as an indicator of the growth of India's education ecosystem.

He also highlighted the increase in medical education opportunities and said that the number of medical seats has more than doubled since 2014.

Foreign Universities Coming to India

PM Modi also spoke about the growing presence of foreign universities in India. He said arrangements have been made to enable Indian students to obtain foreign degrees while studying within the country.

The expansion of international higher education options could provide students with greater access to global academic programmes without necessarily having to travel overseas.

Focus on Education, Skills and Youth Opportunities

The announcements made during the Independence Day address reflect a broader focus on improving opportunities for India's young population.

Free online coaching could help reduce the financial barriers associated with competitive-exam preparation, while AI training is aimed at strengthening future-ready skills. The sports talent hunt, meanwhile, seeks to identify and encourage promising athletes from different parts of the country.

Together, these initiatives focus on education, technology, employability and sports development.

What Students Need to Know

Students and competitive-exam aspirants should wait for detailed government guidelines before registering for the proposed free coaching programme. Information such as the examinations covered, eligibility criteria, application dates, course structure and registration procedure will be important for candidates.

Aspirants should rely on official government announcements for confirmation of the programme's launch and other details. The free online coaching initiative, along with the proposed AI training and sports talent hunt, marks a significant focus on expanding opportunities for India's youth.