JK- Ganderbal, Nov 1 (ITN): In a major educational initiative aimed at opening new career avenues for youth, the Indian Army on Sunday inaugurated the Kashmir Super-30 Educational Centre at Manasbal in Ganderbal district, offering free residential coaching to 30 selected students from Jammu and Kashmir.
The centre, named Chinar Centre of Educational Excellence, was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Shreya Singhal (IAS), along with a parent of one of the selected candidates, in the presence of senior Army officers, representatives of the National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO), students and their parents.
The inaugural batch comprises 30 meritorious boys selected from different districts of J&K through a multi-stage merit-based process involving written examinations, aptitude tests, psychological assessment and personal interviews.
The students will receive completely free residential coaching for NEET, JEE and other competitive examinations, besides academic mentoring, study material, mock tests, regular assessments and personality development sessions. Boarding, lodging, nutritious meals and counselling facilities will also be provided.
The campus has been equipped with modern classrooms, residential accommodation, a library-cum-computer laboratory and other essential facilities.
Speaking on the occasion, the Army representative said the initiative was aimed at identifying and nurturing local talent while ensuring that financial constraints do not deprive deserving students of quality educational opportunities.
Deputy Commissioner Shreya Singhal appreciated the Army’s contribution towards educational empowerment and community welfare, stressing the need to extend opportunities to talented students, particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds. She also assured support from the district administration.
The programme is being funded under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), a Ministry of Defence PSU. While the Army is providing infrastructure, security and overall supervision, NIEDO will manage academic training and the centre’s day-to-day functioning.
The initiative builds on earlier Kashmir Super-30 Engineering, Kashmir Super-30 Medical and Kashmir Super-50 programmes aimed at helping students from the region gain admission to reputed institutions.
Regular classes for the 2026-27 academic session commenced on November 1, marking the beginning of a new educational opportunity for the selected students.
Report : Mansoor Qadir, J&K.
