Odisha’s Kalahandi district launches ‘Mission Akankhya’ to provide free civil services coaching

The Kalahandi district administration in Odisha has launched “Mission Akankhya” to provide free civil services coaching for aspirants.

The initiative was announced on Independence Day after an MoU was signed with Vision IAS, New Delhi.

Under the program, 60 students will be selected each year through a written test and interview.

Registrations open on Aug 22, and the selection test will be held on Sept 21. Coaching is scheduled to begin in the first week of October at Bhawanipatna.

The district administration will provide infrastructure support, while Vision IAS will conduct the training through classroom and online sessions.

Faculty from the institute will offer structured guidance and study support to help students prepare for competitive examinations.

Officials said this is the first such coaching initiative in Kalahandi, which is identified as an aspirational district under NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP).

Vision IAS has previously partnered with administrations in aspirational districts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

The program is expected to improve access to quality training in the district, where opportunities have often been limited.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, addressing the fourth convocation of IIIT Kota in Rajasthan, voiced concern about the spread of coaching centers.

“I urge civil societies (and) public representatives to appreciate the urgency of this disease (coaching). We must converge to restore sanity in education,” Dhankhar said.

He described coaching hubs as “poaching centers” and a “black hole for talent,” adding, “The seats are limited, and coaching centers are all over the country. They robotize our students, making their thinking absolutely stifled.”

Dhankhar further reminded students, “Your marksheet (and) grade(s) will never define you. When you leap into the competitive world, your knowledge and thinking mind will define you.”