Ganderbal, November 1: The Indian Army on Sunday inaugurated the Chinar Centre of Educational Excellence (Kashmir Super-30) at Manasbal in Ganderbal district, providing free residential coaching for NEET and JEE aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir.
The centre was jointly inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Shreya Singhal, IAS, along with a parent of one of the selected students, in the presence of senior Army officials, representatives of the National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO), parents and students.
A total of 30 deserving boys from different districts of Jammu and Kashmir have been selected for the inaugural batch through a merit-based selection process.
According to the Army, the initiative aims to provide quality education and equal opportunities to talented students, particularly those belonging to economically weaker backgrounds and remote, rural, hilly and border areas.
The selection process involved outreach across schools in Kashmir, followed by a written examination conducted at multiple centres across the Valley. Candidates subsequently underwent aptitude assessment, psychological screening and personal interviews under Army supervision.
The programme will provide completely free residential coaching for NEET, JEE and allied competitive examinations, along with structured study material, regular assessments, mock tests, boarding, lodging and nutritious meals.
The students will also receive study kits and access to a well-equipped library and computer laboratory, besides mentoring, personality development, leadership and communication skills training, counselling and wellness support.
The newly established campus has residential and academic facilities, including hostel accommodation, modern classrooms, a cookhouse, dining hall and library-cum-computer laboratory. The Army will provide security, supervision and continuous monitoring of the centre.
The initiative builds upon the success of the Army’s earlier Kashmir Super-30 Engineering, Kashmir Super-30 Medical and Kashmir Super-50 programmes, which have helped students from the region pursue higher education in reputed institutions across the country.
Addressing the gathering, an Army representative said the initiative reflected the Army’s commitment to nurturing the talent and potential of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth by providing them with academic resources, guidance and an enabling environment.
Deputy Commissioner Shreya Singhal appreciated the initiative and lauded the Army’s efforts towards educational empowerment and community welfare. She stressed the importance of creating opportunities for talented students from economically weaker sections and assured the support of the civil administration.
Parents of the selected students also expressed gratitude to the Army for providing their children an opportunity to access quality education and professional coaching.
The programme is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), a Ministry of Defence public sector undertaking, which is funding the inaugural batch. The Indian Army is facilitating the initiative by providing the campus, infrastructure, security, supervision and monitoring, while NIEDO is the training partner responsible for academic delivery, administration and day-to-day functioning.
Regular academic classes for Batch-I of the 2026-27 academic year commenced on November 1.
The Army said the initiative marks another step towards empowering young people through education and contributing to a progressive and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
