AI Generated Summary
- Jasmine Kaur, one of the students, secured an All-India Rank 4 in the UPSC Combined Defence Services (OTA) examination and has since joined the Indian Air Force as an officer after clearing the AFCAT.
- According to institute director Kamaljit Singh, former Dean (Academic Affairs) at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, the entire coaching programme is fully funded by the Nishan-e-Sikhi Charitable Trust, Khadur Sahib, ensuring that financial limitations never stand in the way of talent.
- Nishan-e-Sikhi, a charitable institution under the leadership of Baba Sewa Singh, has emerged as a lifeline for young aspirants by offering free coaching for some of the country’s toughest entrance examinations.
In a region where access to quality competitive exam preparation remains a challenge, a quiet but powerful transformation is underway. Nishan-e-Sikhi, a charitable institution under the leadership of Baba Sewa Singh, has emerged as a lifeline for young aspirants by offering free coaching for some of the country’s toughest entrance examinations.
At the heart of this initiative is the institution’s civil services training centre, which focuses on empowering underprivileged youth from rural backgrounds. The centre provides structured preparation for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and state civil services examinations, opening doors that are often closed to students due to financial constraints.
What sets the programme apart is its integrated academic model. Class XII passouts can enrol in an offline coaching programme that runs alongside a BA (Social Studies) degree. This allows students to pursue their undergraduate education while simultaneously preparing for civil services, following a curriculum carefully designed to meet the demands of competitive examinations.
The training process is intensive and multi-layered. In the initial years, students build a strong foundation in core subjects while also honing their language proficiency and communication skills—areas often overlooked but critical for success. By the third year, selected candidates move into a specialised ‘target batch’, where preparation becomes more focused through regular assessments and performance tracking. The final year shifts emphasis to optional subjects and full-length mock tests delivered online, closely simulating the actual examination environment.
Nishan-e-Sikhi also extends opportunities to graduates and final-year undergraduate students from outside the integrated programme. These candidates can gain entry into the ‘target batch’ through a competitive written test followed by an interview. According to institute director Kamaljit Singh, former Dean (Academic Affairs) at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, the entire coaching programme is fully funded by the Nishan-e-Sikhi Charitable Trust, Khadur Sahib, ensuring that financial limitations never stand in the way of talent.
The impact of this initiative is already evident. Recently, seven out of 14 students from the institute successfully cleared the PCS-2025 Preliminary Examination, a remarkable success rate by any standard. Individual achievements have also brought recognition to the centre. Jasmine Kaur, one of the students, secured an All-India Rank 4 in the UPSC Combined Defence Services (OTA) examination and has since joined the Indian Air Force as an officer after clearing the AFCAT.
As competitive exams continue to be a gateway to social mobility, institutions like Nishan-e-Sikhi are redefining access and opportunity. By blending education, discipline, and service, the centre stands as a beacon of hope for countless young minds striving to turn ambition into achievement.
