Punjab govt runs winter coaching camps for 1,700 students targeting IIT, NIT, AIIMS

More than 1,700 students from Punjab government schools attended Winter Residential Coaching Camps under the Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) initiative, aimed at preparing aspirants for India’s leading professional institutions such as IITs, NITs, and AIIMS.

Candidates were selected through a rigorous process involving multiple assessments, including mock exams, academic records, understanding of concepts, and teacher recommendations.

To ensure inclusivity, 20% of seats were allocated to students from other government schools and those taking a drop year, extending opportunities beyond Schools of Eminence and Residential Schools for Meritorious Students.

The residential camps offered a comprehensive program, with instruction from top coaching institutes, including Physics Wallah, Vidya Mandir, and Avanti Fellows.

Students engaged in concept-focused classes, advanced problem-solving sessions, one-on-one mentoring, and activities covering stress management, career guidance, and recreation.

The campuses provided safe, distraction-free environments with nutritious meals, healthcare, and counselling support.

Punjab Education Minister S Harjot Singh Bains noted that three centers hosted the camps: Bathinda with 601 students (359 girls, 242 boys), Ludhiana with 573 students (327 girls, 246 boys), and SAS Nagar (Mohali) with 554 students (367 girls, 187 boys).

"These winter camps reflect the Mann government's commitment to equitable education," Bains said. "They empower youth from all socio-economic backgrounds, instilling confidence and providing deserving students a fair opportunity to compete for India's premier institutions."

He also highlighted the program’s outcomes, "Last year, 265 government school students qualified for JEE Mains, 45 cleared JEE Advanced, and 847 passed NEET, showing that government schools can now serve as stepping stones to top professional careers."

The PACE Winter Residential Coaching Camps stand as one of Punjab’s largest initiatives for competitive exam preparation, demonstrating the state government’s focus on fostering academic excellence alongside equity and student welfare.