Government to announce launch of free study material for IIT-JEE

Aspirants to the coveted Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other premier engineering institutes can now look forward to a readily accessible resource for preparation. The government is set to provide study material free of cost through various media, including a dedicated website, YouTube and three free-to-air TV channels to be launched by Doordarshan. The launch is likely to be announced on August 15. The move comes amid concerns over growing anxiety among students regarding entry to premier engineering institutes that has led to an increase in instances of suicide among those who fail to make the cut. Competition has also led to mushrooming of coaching institutes that often charge lakhs of rupees. "Any student can access content any time of the day. The government intends to give equal opportunity to all students to be able to crack IITs without — or with minimum reliance on — the coaching institutes," said a senior government official, who did not wish to be identified.

Besides content, regular assignments and tests will be part of the material, the official said. In addition, the government will launch an 8 am to 8 pm helpline to answer queries regarding the entrance examination, he said. "Right now, it is difficult even for the brightest student to get through IIT without coaching. This initiative will certainly reduce that need," a senior professor at one of the older IITs said on condition of anonymity. A team of at least 10 ace teachers is being put together for the project. Efforts are on to pick the best teachers from among IITs, Kendriya Vidyalayas, retirees and professors, and even faculty at private coaching centres. In addition, top 100 JEE rankers will share tips with aspiring students to solve the questions in less time, another official said. Three free-to-air channels to be launched by Doordarshan have been slotted for IITs, mostly the old ones. Besides, there will be live content streaming for four hours daily over DTH and internet platforms, with the capsule being repeated through the day. "This should reduce stress among students who are aspiring for engineering institutes," said a professor, who is part of this programme. Regular assignments and tests will be conducted online, partly on Massive Online Open Courses or MOOC on 'Swayam' platform.