NESTS Signs MoU with Avanti Fellows to Boost IIT-JEE and NEET Coaching for Tribal Students

New Delhi: In a landmark move aimed at promoting inclusive education and improving access to quality academic support, the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Avanti Fellows to provide coaching for IIT-JEE and NEET examinations to tribal students across the country.

The MoU, formalized today, marks the beginning of a five-year collaboration starting from the academic year 2025–26. Under this partnership, selected students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) will receive specialized coaching to prepare for highly competitive national-level entrance examinations such as JEE Main/Advanced and NEET.

As part of this initiative, a new Center of Excellence (CoE) will be established at EMRS Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh with an initial batch of 80 students. These students will be chosen through a structured entrance test. Over the next few years, additional CoEs are planned across various regions to expand the program’s reach and impact.

Speaking on the initiative, officials from NESTS highlighted the importance of bridging the educational gap for tribal youth and empowering them through targeted academic interventions. “This partnership is a step forward in helping students unlock their true potential and prepare confidently for careers in engineering and medicine,” a NESTS spokesperson said.

The collaboration with Avanti Fellows—an education-focused public charitable trust—underscores a shared vision to ensure equitable access to quality coaching for students from underrepresented communities. Through this initiative, students will not only receive academic instruction but also mentorship and guidance to navigate the challenges of competitive exams.

NESTS, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is responsible for managing the nationwide network of Eklavya Model Residential Schools that cater specifically to tribal students. With this new partnership, the organization aims to deepen its impact and strengthen pathways for academic success among tribal youth.

Officials from both NESTS and Avanti Fellows expressed optimism about the long-term outcomes of this effort, envisioning a future where tribal students are better represented in India’s premier engineering and medical institutions.