From 2 to 597: Eklavya School Students Shine in JEE and NEET Exams

In a remarkable leap of achievement, 597 students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across India have cleared the country’s toughest competitive exams — JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and NEET — in 2024–25. This is a stunning rise from just two students in 2022–23, underscoring the transformative impact of focused education for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

According to official data, 219 EMRS students cleared JEE Main, 34 qualified in JEE Advanced, and 344 cracked NEET this year. The surge reflects the success of reforms in EMRS institutions, which provide free, CBSE-affiliated, residential education to tribal children.

One of the brightest examples is Jatin Negi, from Sangla village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district, who overcame severe weather, isolation, and power cuts to secure an All-India Rank of 421 in JEE Advanced. Now pursuing B.Tech at IIT Jodhpur, Negi credits EMRS for providing structure, discipline, and mentorship.

Another success story is Padvi Urjasviben Amrutbhai from Khapatia village in Gujarat, who cleared NEET and is pursuing MBBS at GMERS Medical College, Junagadh. “Villagers once doubted what girls could achieve. Now, I want to show that girls can make their parents proud,” she said.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs manages 485 functional EMRSs with over 1.38 lakh students enrolled in 2024–25. These schools aim to offer quality education, nutrition, healthcare, and guidance within a holistic residential setting.

Initiatives such as Centres of Excellence for IIT-JEE/NEET coaching, digital tutoring, smart classrooms, Atal Tinkering Labs, and career guidance hubs are enhancing academic outcomes. The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) oversees these efforts, helping EMRS students compete at national levels.

Backed by constitutional provisions like Article 46 and Articles 15(4) & 15(5), which ensure educational support for disadvantaged groups, EMRS schools are realizing the vision of educational equity and empowerment for tribal communities.

From mountain villages in Himachal to forest hamlets in Gujarat, EMRS success stories are rewriting the narrative of India’s tribal education — proving that with opportunity and guidance, talent knows no barriers.