A Push for Girls in Engineering
With a focus on filling the gender divide at elite engineering colleges, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in association with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), has introduced an ambitious scheme called Udaan. It is for girl students who want to join the best engineering colleges but tend to have little access to facilities, counseling, or proper coaching.
Udaan is more than an academic support system—it’s a platform for talented young girls to map their future and contribute to the development of the nation through STEM professions. It is aimed at enhancing the process of Science and Mathematics learning and teaching for Class XI and XII, filling the gap between school education and the necessity of entrance exams.
What Udaan Offers
Udaan provides free support to eligible girl students currently studying in Class XI with a focus on the Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) stream. It includes:
Free online and offline tutorials, video lectures, and study materials
Virtual weekend classes conducted from 60 different city centers across India
A pre-loaded tablet given to each student to access learning content beyond the classroom
Regular assessments with feedback and remedial guidance
Peer learning, mentoring, and motivational sessions for students and parents
A helpline service for doubt-clearing, progress tracking, and tech support
To make the most of the technology, students also attend an orientation session on how to use the tablet and platform effectively.
Who Can Apply
This program is available only to Indian citizens studying in India. Girl students from Class XI, enrolled in KVs, NVs, government schools, or CBSE-affiliated private schools, are eligible.
Academic criteria include:
Minimum 70% overall marks in Class X
At least 80% in Science and Mathematics
For CGPA systems: CGPA of 8 and GPA of 9 in Science and Math
The student must be in the PCM stream
The family’s annual income must be below ₹6 lakh
For virtual classes, selection is based on merit and is connected to the city of choice. The JEE (Advanced) norms for reservations are OBC (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), and PWD (3%).
How to Register
The registration process is online:
1. Fill out the application form
2. Upload your recent photograph
3. Print the completed form
4. Download and sign the declaration
After completing these steps, submit the documents for verification at the selected center. For help, email [email protected] or call 011-23214737.
For girls who want to pursue careers in engineering, Udaan is more than just a program.
