Jaipur: A free coaching programme for rural students from low income families in Rajasthan who will be appearing for engineering and medical entrance examinations was launched on Wednesday by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

The coaching to these poor students will be imparted through the SATCOM network. Rajasthan will be the first state in the country to provide coaching to students from a rural background via this network.

Gehlot said on the occasion that students who live in rural areas and small towns are very competent but many of them fail to clear the entrance examinations as they are unable to afford coaching due to low financial conditions of their families.

He further stated that the coaching programme would provide free coaching in science, mathematics, physics and chemistry through centres of the SATCOM network that are situated all over the state.

Students can get printed copies of the lectures from the website of the Department of Science and Technology. The chief minister also congratulated the department for their programme.

Gehlot also informed that three percent of the current year's budget had been earmarked by the government for IT in every department.