Manasbal (Ganderbal), November 1:The Indian Army on Sunday inaugurated the Chinar Centre of Educational Excellence – Kashmir Super-30 (KS-30) at Manasbal in Ganderbal district, providing 30 meritorious students from different districts of Jammu and Kashmir an opportunity to pursue free residential coaching for NEET, JEE and other competitive examinations.The centre was jointly inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Ms Shreya Singhal (IAS), along with a parent of one of the selected students, in the presence of senior Army officials, representatives of NIEDO, parents and students of the inaugural batch.The initiative aims to empower talented students, particularly those belonging to economically weaker sections, by providing them access to quality education, professional coaching and a supportive academic environment.The programme is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative funded by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), a Ministry of Defence PSU. The Indian Army is facilitating the initiative by providing campus infrastructure, security, supervision and monitoring, while NIEDO is the training partner responsible for academic delivery and day-to-day functioning.A total of 30 deserving boys from different districts of J&K have been selected through a transparent, merit-based process involving written examinations, aptitude assessments, psychological screening and personal interviews.The fully residential programme will provide free coaching for NEET, JEE and allied competitive examinations, along with study material, regular assessments, mock tests, accommodation, nutritious meals, library and computer laboratory facilities.The newly established campus is equipped with modern classrooms, hostel accommodation, a cookhouse, dining hall, library-cum-computer laboratory and other essential facilities to ensure a conducive learning environment.Addressing the gathering, the Army representative reiterated the Army’s commitment to youth empowerment, educational development and nation-building in Jammu and Kashmir.Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Shreya Singhal, appreciated the Indian Army’s initiative and lauded its efforts towards educational empowerment and community welfare. She emphasised the importance of providing equal opportunities to talented students from economically weaker backgrounds and assured the support of the civil administration.Parents of the selected students also expressed gratitude to the Indian Army for providing their children an opportunity to access quality education and professional coaching.The Kashmir Super-30 initiative builds upon the success of the Army’s earlier Super-30 Engineering, Super-30 Medical and Super-50 programmes, which have helped students from the region pursue higher education in reputed institutions across the country.Regular academic classes for the inaugural batch (Academic Year 2026–27) commenced on November 1, 2026.The inauguration marks another significant step towards nurturing young talent and creating educational opportunities for students, particularly those from rural, remote, hilly and border areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
