85% marks in mathematics and science required for JEE, girls eligible with 80%
Category-wise cutoffs prescribed for the medical stream, family income criteria also to be met
Lucknow, October 2026 : Marks in Class 10 mathematics and science can now help meritorious students move forward toward becoming engineers or doctors. Under the Yogi government, students in Class 12 science streams at UP's Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidyalayas will receive one year of free JEE and NEET coaching through Dakshana Foundation.
A key feature is that eligibility for this opportunity is based on Class 10 marks and family income. Selected students will also receive free accommodation and meals, along with coaching, at the Dakshana Valley campus near Pune.
Sanjeev Singh, Director of the Social Welfare Department, said students in Class 12 (Science stream) in the 2026-27 academic session who will appear for their board exams by May 2027 can apply for the Joint Dakshana Selection Test (JDST-2027) as per the prescribed eligibility criteria.
For the engineering stream, students in the general category must have secured 85% marks in mathematics and science in Class 10. For girls, cutoff is 80%. This means girls in the general category receive a five-percentage-point relaxation to qualify. Separate criteria will apply to other categories and students with disabilities.
For NEET preparation, students in the general category must have secured 80% marks in Class 10. The threshold is 75% for students belonging to the Other Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections, while it is 65% for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. These criteria will provide eligible students from different categories with an opportunity to apply.
To avail the benefits of the scheme, annual family income of male students must be less than Rs. 3 lakh, while the annual family income of female students must be less than Rs. 5 lakh. Selected students will receive free coaching, accommodation and meals for one year. Principals of Sarvodaya Vidyalayas have been instructed to make eligible students aware of this opportunity. Interested students can apply online at https://apply.scholarship.dakshana.org.
