LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh students who aspire to become doctors or engineers but cannot afford costly entrance examination coaching have a new opportunity to explore. Eligible Class 12 Science students studying at Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidyalayas can apply for the Joint Dakshana Selection Test (JDST-2027), conducted by the Dakshana Foundation. JDST 2027 is scheduled to be held in the month of December 2026 (Tentative). Students who will be selected in this programme will receive one year of free coaching for either the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) or the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The coaching will take place at the Dakshana Valley campus near Pune, with accommodation and meals provided during the programme. Students can visit apply.scholarship.dakshana.org to fill out the JDST 2027 application form and for official updates.
JDST-2027: Free JEE and NEET coaching for UP students
The Joint Dakshana Selection Test (JDST) is used to select students for the Dakshana Foundation’s coaching programme. Through JDST-2027, selected students of Uttar Pradesh’s Sarvodaya Vidyalayas can apply for one year of residential coaching for JEE or NEET.
Who can fill the application form of JDST-2027?
Students must fulfil the prescribed eligibility conditions before submitting the JDST-2027 application form. According to the details shared by the Social Welfare Department, applicants should:
-Be enrolled in Class 12 Science during the 2026-27 academic session at an eligible Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Uttar Pradesh
-Be appearing for their Class 12 board examinations by May 2027
-Meet the required Class 10 academic cut-offs for their chosen stream
-Satisfy the applicable annual family income limit
-Fulfil the category-wise and other eligibility conditions specified for the programme
JDST-2027 eligibility criteria
Students interested in the Dakshana Foundation’s free JEE and NEET coaching programme must meet three main conditions related to their school, Class 10 marks and family income.
1. School Eligibility
The candidate applying for this should be a student of Class 12 Science at a government or government-aided school during the 2026-27 academic session. They must also have appeared for their Class 12 board examinations by May 2027.
2. Class 10 Marks Required for JDST-2027
The aggregate marks in Mathematics and Science in Class 10 should be more than the prescribed cut-off. The requirements differ by category and, for engineering, by gender.
JDST 2027 family income limit
To qualify for the scholarship, the annual family income of the male and female student should be less than Rs 3,00,000 and Rs 5,00,000, respectively. Applicants should check the official instructions for any required income proof and other supporting documents.
What does the Dakshana Scholarship Cover?
Students selected through the Joint Dakshana Selection Test (JDST-2027) can receive one year of coaching for JEE or NEET after completing Class 12. The scholarship includes:
-Free coaching for the chosen engineering or medical entrance examination.
-Free accommodation at the Dakshana Valley Campus near Pune.
-Free food during the one-year programme.
The scholarship is intended to help eligible students from government and government-aided schools prepare for competitive entrance examinations without bearing the full cost of coaching and residential facilities.
JDST-2027 selection process for students from government, aided and public schools
Students studying in government, government-aided or public schools, excluding JNV and EMRS students, must first check their eligibility on the official website and fill out the application form. The first round of shortlisting will be based on the cut-off marks mentioned in the application form. Students who qualify this round will then have to fill out the Dakshana Scholar Application (DSA).
After submitting the DSA, invited students will take mock tests to become familiar with the test interface. They will then have to appear for the JDST-2027 online at their assigned examination centre. On the basis of their JDST-2027 performance, shortlisted students in the second round will be called for an interview and document verification. Students selected after the interview will be offered the one-year Dakshana Scholarship, which includes free JEE or NEET coaching, food and accommodation at the campus near Pune.
JDST-2027 Selection process for JNV and EMRS students
Students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) will be invited to appear for JDST-2027 based on their Class 12 Term 1 results. Invited students must fill out the Dakshana Scholar Application (DSA). They can then take mock tests and familiarise themselves with the test interface before appearing for the main exam.
After the second round of shortlisting based on JDST-2027 results, selected candidates will be called for an interview and document verification. Students who clear the final selection process will be offered the one-year Dakshana Scholarship, covering free JEE or NEET coaching, food and accommodation at the campus near Pune.
Exam pattern of JDST 2027
The JDST-2027 is a multiple-choice test with questions from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology, and Logical Reasoning. It will have 25 questions each in Physics, Chemistry and Logical Reasoning, along with 25 questions in Mathematics for engineering aspirants or 50 questions in Biology for medical aspirants. Candidates will get 5 marks for every correct answer, while 2 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer. No marks will be awarded for unanswered questions.
