Bhubaneswar, Feb. 19: The state government has decided to set up dedicated civil service coaching centres at six universities across Odisha to train Indian Administrative Services and Odisha Administrative Services aspirants.

The government has selected Utkal University and Rama Devi Women's University as the two centres here, while the other four are Sambalpur University and Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur, Berhampur University in Berhampur and Ravenshaw University in Cuttack. The government will spend Rs 1 crore on both non-recurring and recurring funds.

The move aims to provide quality training to aspirants before they appear in what is considered to be the toughest examinations in the country and state respectively. The coaching centres will begin classes from April, it has been decided.

"We have decided to set up civil service coaching centres in the universities on a priority basis. We have already sanctioned Rs 10 lakh to each university to procure equipment and furnish classrooms with projectors and WiFi facility and other infrastructure need," said a higher education department official.

According to plans, the universities will select two batches of 60 students each through separate entrance examinations every year. The centres will provide training on every aspect of the examination, from the prelims to personal interviews.

"We received communication from the government and have started working on furnishing classrooms for the coaching centre. We will issue an advertisement within a week to conduct the entrance test for students. Everything will be done on the basis of the government's guideline. We are hopeful to begin classes by April," said Utkal University vice-chancellor Asok Das.

The proposed centres would also provide subject-specific classes for aspirants of the main examination. The students here would be able to take part in personality sessions, group discussions, personal counselling and mock interviews with senior and fresh-recruited IAS officers of the state and central government.

"The government has decided to charge a minimal fee for enrolment in the coaching centres as otherwise the students might have doubts about the quality of training. It has already decided the fee structure and the students will pay according their category - Rs 1,000 for SC/ST students and Rs 2,000 for general candidates per year. Students from empanelled colleges can also take admission," said Das.

"It is a good move on the part of the government to open such centres in universities and also make it affordable. There are not many civil service coaching centres in the state an aspirants often go to other cities for training. I hope that the faculties will ensure quality training at these centres," said academic Sushil Dash.