New Delhi: The Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi, has directed all government and government-aided schools to inform eligible Class 12 Science students about a free one-year residential coaching programme for JEE and NEET aspirants. The initiative, offered in partnership with the Dakshana Foundation, aims to support students from economically weaker backgrounds by providing coaching, accommodation and meals at no cost.

According to the circular issued by the Directorate, schools have been instructed to actively spread awareness about the scholarship among students studying in Class 12 Science during the 2026–27 academic session. Along with the circular, schools have also received the Dakshana Foundation's communication to principals and the notification for the Joint Dakshana Selection Test (JDST) 2027, through which eligible candidates will be selected

Students selected under the programme will receive one year of fully residential coaching at the Dakshana Valley campus in Kadus village, Pune, Maharashtra. Besides classroom coaching for JEE and NEET, the scholarship also covers hostel accommodation and meals, ensuring that selected students do not have to bear any financial burden during the programme. 

Admission to the scholarship programme will not be based on direct application alone. Students will first have to appear for the JDST 2027, which is scheduled to be conducted in December 2026. Candidates who qualify will then go through multiple stages, including application screening, mock tests, document verification and interviews before the final list of scholars is prepared

The scholarship is open to Class 12 Science students studying in government, government-aided and eligible public schools. To qualify, applicants must generally have an annual family income below ₹3 lakh. However, this income limit will not apply to candidates belonging to the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category. Students must also meet the prescribed Class 10 marks criteria in Mathematics and Science, with separate cut-offs applicable for different reservation categories, including General, OBC, EWS, SC, ST and PwD candidates. Eligibility requirements also vary slightly depending on whether a student is preparing for engineering (JEE) or medical (NEET) entrance examinations.

The Directorate has highlighted that many deserving students miss out on such opportunities simply because they are unaware of them. By directing schools to actively publicise the programme, the government hopes that eligible students will receive timely information and be able to apply before the selection process begins. For many aspirants, the cost of coaching remains one of the biggest barriers to preparing for competitive entrance examinations, making scholarship-based initiatives particularly significant.

The Dakshana Foundation has stated that it has been providing free coaching to students from government schools for more than 19 years. According to the organisation, many of its scholars have secured admission to prestigious institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and government medical colleges. These achievements have been cited by the foundation in its communication to schools to encourage wider participation in the programme. 

As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates will first complete the Dakshana Scholar Application, appear for mock examinations and then take the online JDST at designated centres using the Dakshana Scholarship Test mobile application. Those clearing the examination will subsequently be invited for interviews and document verification before the final merit list is announced. The notification also includes details of the examination pattern and syllabus covering Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Logical Reasoning, enabling students to prepare in advance.