₹50,000 for Prelims, ₹1 Lakh for Mains: Meghalaya’s New Push for UPSC Aspirants

The Meghalaya government has launched the CM-INSPIRE scheme , aimed at strengthening the participation of the state’s youth in the UPSC Civil Services Examination through structured, stage-wise financial assistance for aspirants.

Under the scheme, candidates who clear the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination will receive Rs 50,000, while those qualifying the mains examination will be provided Rs 1 lakh as financial assistance , officials said. The initiative is designed to ease the economic burden on aspirants and improve access to competitive civil services preparation.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the programme seeks to address the declining representation of Meghalaya candidates in the civil services and ensure that financial constraints do not prevent deserving youth from pursuing their ambitions . He added that the government remains committed to building confidence among aspirants and supporting them throughout their preparation journey.

The scheme will be implemented through the Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute (MATI) portal , which will manage applications, verification, and disbursement of funds.

Officials said CM-INSPIRE is also part of a broader effort to build a more comprehensive UPSC support ecosystem , with potential components such as mentorship, structured guidance, and coaching facilitation to improve success rates.

While the scheme has drawn attention for its structured incentive model, it is not the first of its kind in India . Several states have earlier introduced similar initiatives. States such as Manipur and Telangana have offered financial incentives for clearing different stages of the civil services examination, while Haryana has recently announced stage-based assistance for UPSC aspirants along with coaching support. Other states, including Odisha and Assam , have also implemented coaching-linked or stipend-based civil services support programmes, though with varying structures.

However, officials note that Meghalaya’s initiative stands out for its clear stage-wise framework combining Prelims and Mains rewards under a single dedicated scheme with a centralized application system.