Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab Govt empowers 1,728 Govt School students through PACE Winter camps for IIT, NIT, AIIMS preparation
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 1, 2026: In a landmark initiative to democratize access to high-quality competitive exam coaching, the Punjab Government trained over 1,700 government school students under the Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) Winter Residential Camps, Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains announced.
The camps aimed at preparing students for India’s premier professional institutes such as IITs, NITs, and AIIMS, saw participation from 1,728 students across three centres: Bathinda (601 students – 359 girls, 242 boys), Ludhiana (573 – 327 girls, 246 boys) and SAS Nagar (Mohali) (554 – 367 girls, 187 boys).
“PACE Winter Camps are a testament to the immense potential in our government schools. This initiative empowers youth, instills confidence, and ensures students from all socio-economic backgrounds get a fair shot at top institutions,” said Bains, highlighting Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s commitment to levelling the educational playing field.
The students were selected through a rigorous multi-stage process evaluating academic performance, conceptual clarity, consistency, and teacher recommendations. Each centre reserved 20 percent seats for students from other government schools and drop-year aspirants, ensuring inclusivity beyond elite schools.
Expert faculty from top coaching organizations such as Physics Wallah, Vidya Mandir, and Avanti Fellows led a structured curriculum focusing on concept strengthening, advanced problem-solving aligned with JEE and NEET patterns, one-on-one mentoring, doubt-clearing sessions, stress management, and career guidance. Secure residential facilities provided a distraction-free environment with nutritious meals, medical and counselling support.
Highlighting the effectiveness of the program, Bains noted, “Last year, 265 government school students cleared JEE Mains, 45 cracked JEE Advanced, and 847 cleared NEET, proving that state government schools are now premier launchpads for the country’s top professional careers.”
The Punjab Government’s robust arrangements for PACE Winter Camps reflect a deliberate effort to institutionalise excellence, equity, and student well-being, providing government school students the tools and guidance to compete confidently with the country’s best.