Gangtok: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has announced the CM-SAATHI (SATHEE) initiative, a new education programme aimed at providing free coaching and academic support to students from economically weaker backgrounds preparing for the JEE and NEET entrance examinations.
The initiative has been developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur under the Government of India’s SATHEE programme. The announcement was made during a Teachers’ Day programme in Gangtok, with the state government highlighting its focus on making quality competitive-exam preparation accessible to students regardless of their financial circumstances.
Free Coaching For JEE And NEET Aspirants
Under CM-SAATHI, eligible students will receive structured academic support for engineering and medical entrance examinations. Recent reports said the programme includes a two-month crash course for students from poor families who may otherwise be unable to afford private coaching.
The initiative is intended to address one of the biggest barriers faced by students preparing for highly competitive examinations: the high cost of private coaching.
CM Prem Singh Tamang said many talented students from financially disadvantaged families aspire to compete in JEE and NEET but cannot afford quality coaching centres.
What Will CM-SAATHI Offer?
The Sikkim government’s broader CM-SAATHI programme includes technology-enabled learning and academic resources developed with IIT Kanpur under SATHEE.
Students are expected to benefit from:
- Expert video lectures
- Comprehensive study material
- Mock tests
- Practice questions
- Doubt-resolution support
- Technology-enabled learning resources
- Structured academic guidance
The government said the programme is designed to bring quality coaching directly to students’ homes and schools. More than 2,000 students from over 40 government and private schools across Sikkim are expected to benefit from the initiative.
IIT Kanpur To Support The Programme
IIT Kanpur is partnering with the Sikkim government through the Ministry of Education’s SATHEE (Self-Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams) initiative.
SATHEE was developed by IIT Kanpur under the Ministry of Education to provide free learning and assessment resources for students preparing for competitive examinations. Its existing resources cover examinations including JEE and NEET, along with several other national-level entrance and recruitment examinations.
The collaboration will also support the professional development of Science and Mathematics teachers through academic collaboration and capacity-building initiatives.
Sikkim’s Larger Education Push
CM-SAATHI is part of Sikkim’s broader effort to improve access to quality education and competitive-exam preparation.
The Chief Minister has said that education should be viewed as an investment in the state’s future. According to the government, approximately 15 per cent of Sikkim’s total expenditure was allocated to education during 2025-26.
The government has also set a broader objective of developing Sikkim into an education hub where students can access quality education without having to leave the state.
‘Launch Pad’ Scheme For Government Exam Aspirants
Alongside CM-SAATHI, the Chief Minister also announced the Launch Pad scheme.
Under this programme, economically weaker students, persons with disabilities and orphaned youth preparing for central government and public-sector undertaking examinations will receive one-time financial assistance of up to ₹10,000.
The assistance is intended to help cover expenses such as study materials, travel and other examination-related costs.
Focus On Skills And Student Development
The Teachers’ Day announcements also included measures aimed at promoting physical fitness and life skills among students.
The state government plans to introduce a Sikkim Life Skills Curriculum, covering practical areas such as CPR, first aid, fire safety and disaster preparedness. Annual state-level Teachers’ Runs and inter-school and college runs were also announced to encourage healthy living and wider participation in sports.
Aiming To Make Competitive Exams More Accessible
For students from economically weaker families, the cost of coaching can be a significant obstacle even before they appear for competitive examinations.
CM-SAATHI seeks to reduce that barrier by combining free digital resources, academic guidance and competitive-exam preparation through government schools and other educational channels.
The Sikkim government’s partnership with IIT Kanpur could therefore provide students with access to preparation resources that are traditionally concentrated in larger cities and private coaching centres.
The initiative also reflects a wider push toward using technology to make competitive education more accessible, particularly for students who may not have the financial means to relocate or enrol in expensive coaching programmes.
What Students Should Know
Students interested in CM-SAATHI should follow announcements from the Sikkim Education Department and their respective schools for eligibility criteria, registration procedures, course schedules and selection details.
As the programme expands, the state government has also indicated interest in extending similar academic support to students preparing for examinations such as CUET, CLAT, NDA and UPSC Foundation.
