Nanded to offer free NEET, JEE and MHT CET coaching to 200 rural students amid drought

The Nanded district administration will provide free coaching for entrance examinations such as NEET, JEE Main and MHT CET to 200 meritorious students from economically weak rural families. The initiative comes as drought conditions persist in parts of Maharashtra.

The administration says the scheme aims to help children who, because of their families' financial condition, are unable to prepare properly for competitive examinations. According to the district administration, students currently studying in Class 10 at Zilla Parishad high schools and privately run aided schools in rural areas can apply.

Selection will be through an entrance test, which has been fixed for December 2026. Students who pass the test will receive structured coaching so that they can prepare for admission to medical, engineering and other professional courses.

The administration has appealed to eligible students in rural areas to take part in the selection process and take advantage of the scheme.

The programme comes at a time when the effects of drought continue to be felt in rural households across Maharashtra. Families dependent on farming already face mounting financial difficulties. For students from weaker economic backgrounds, the cost of private coaching for entrance examinations can be another obstacle to further study.

NEET is held for admission to undergraduate medical courses, while JEE Main is used for admission to various undergraduate engineering courses. The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test, or MHT CET, is used for admission to professional courses in the state, including engineering and pharmacy.

Through the initiative, the district administration wants students in rural areas to be able to access coaching for these examinations without the additional financial burden of private coaching.

Further details of the entrance test, including the examination schedule and the application process, are yet to be finalised through official announcements by the district administration.