KKN Gurugram Desk | In a remarkable success story that underscores the power of free quality education and equal opportunity, 13 girls from a government-supported free coaching centre in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, have successfully cleared the NEET-UG 2025 examination — one of India’s most competitive entrance exams for undergraduate medical courses.

The initiative, run jointly by the Department of Social Welfare and Ex-Navodaya Foundation, is providing underprivileged and academically bright girls a rare opportunity to chase their dreams of becoming doctors and engineers, without the burden of expensive private coaching fees.

 Highlights:

• 13 girls from Mirzapur’s free residential coaching cleared NEET-UG 2025

• Coaching is organized by the Social Welfare Department and Ex-Navodaya Foundation

• Coaching includes free stay, meals, study materials, and mentoring

• Several students have also cleared IIT-JEE, showing the program’s broader success

• Initiative launched in June 2023, currently selects students from 29 districts in Uttar Pradesh

 Why This Success Matters

Cracking the NEET-UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate) is no small feat. With lakhs of aspirants and only a limited number of government MBBS seats available, competition is fierce. While most aspirants spend lakhs of rupees on private coaching, these 13 girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds succeeded through a free coaching program — challenging the notion that only expensive institutes produce toppers.

This achievement sends a strong message of educational equity, especially at a time when access to quality coaching is increasingly becoming a privilege.

 The Coaching That Changed Lives

The coaching program is run out of Sarvodaya Girls School in Mirzapur, under the name of the Jayaprakash Narayan Sarvodaya Balika Vidyalaya Initiative. It began on June 15, 2023, as a joint effort between the Social Welfare Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and the Ex-Navodaya Foundation — a non-profit organization founded by alumni of Navodaya Vidyalayas.

• Girls are selected through an entrance test conducted across 29 districts of Uttar Pradesh

• Selected students receive 100% free residential coaching for NEET-UG and IIT-JEE

• The coaching covers academic training, personal mentoring, meals, accommodation, and materials

This initiative represents one of the most impactful public-private educational partnerships in the region.

Meet the Achievers: The Girls Who Cracked NEET-UG 2025

Out of the 25 girls who appeared for the NEET-UG 2025 exam from this free coaching centre, 13 qualified with flying colors. Their names are now being celebrated as a source of inspiration across Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

Here are the NEET-UG qualifiers from Mirzapur coaching centre:

• Shweta Pal

• Pooja Ranjan

• Princi

• Malti

• Komal Kumari

• Laxmi

• Anuradha

• Komal

• Laxmi (second student with same name)

• Sabhya Prajapati

• Deepti Gupta

• Pooja Sonkar

Each of these girls overcame socio-economic challenges to earn their place among India’s future medical professionals.

 Free, But High-Quality Education

The success of this initiative lies in its combination of access and excellence. The program not only provides free coaching but also creates a learning environment modeled after elite institutions, focusing on:

• Concept-based learning

• Mock tests and performance tracking

• One-on-one mentorship

• Counseling and mental health support

Students live and study in a disciplined, competitive, yet compassionate residential environment that allows them to focus solely on academics.

 Voices from the Ground

One of the students, who cleared NEET-UG and comes from a rural background, shared:

“My family could never afford private coaching. This program gave me a life-changing opportunity. I owe my success to my mentors and the belief they had in me.”

A senior representative from the Ex-Navodaya Foundation added:

“Our goal is not just to produce exam results but to empower young women with confidence, purpose, and a vision for contributing to society.”

 A Broader Educational Vision: NEET and JEE Coaching in One Place

The Mirzapur centre does not focus solely on medical aspirants. It also prepares students for IIT-JEE, the gateway to top engineering colleges in India. Several girls from the same coaching batch have also cleared JEE Main and are preparing for JEE Advanced 2025.

This dual approach ensures that students have multiple career pathways, whether in medicine or engineering, based on their interests and performance.

 How to Get Admission in This Free Coaching Program

Interested students from Uttar Pradesh can apply through the entrance test conducted annually for admission into the Jayaprakash Narayan Sarvodaya Balika Vidyalayas. Selection is merit-based and completely free of cost.

For the upcoming session, here’s what aspirants need to know:

• Eligibility: Girls from economically weaker sections studying in Class 10 or 11

• Application Mode: Offline/Online (via Social Welfare Department portal)

• Selection: Through written entrance test and interview

Government’s Role in Educational Empowerment

This initiative by the Uttar Pradesh Social Welfare Department is a model for educational inclusion, especially for girls from marginalized communities. By partnering with experienced educational NGOs, the government is ensuring that public funds are translated into real social impact.

Other states may look to replicate this success by:

• Leveraging alumni networks like Ex-Navodaya Foundation

• Using existing school infrastructure

• Focusing on girls’ education in STEM

The story of 13 girls from a free coaching centre in Mirzapur cracking NEET-UG 2025 is a powerful reminder that talent exists in every corner of India — it just needs the right support to shine. As the education system becomes increasingly privatized and costly, initiatives like this stand as a beacon of hope and inclusivity, proving that with the right guidance, dreams do come true — even from the most modest beginnings.