What this scheme offers
SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) hosts 2,000+ free online courses spanning school subjects, undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes — engineering, law, management, humanities and more — taught by faculty from IITs, IIMs, central universities and IGNOU. Course access and learning materials are entirely free; a small proctored-exam fee (roughly ₹1,000-1,500, concessional for reserved categories) applies only if you want a verified, UGC-recognised certificate, which can be used for up to 40% credit transfer toward a formal degree. PM eVidya extends this further through 32 dedicated DTH TV channels (one per class/subject, for students without internet access), digital textbooks via DIKSHA, and the CIET-NCERT free courses for Class 9-12 students preparing for board exams — a recent cycle offered 28 courses across 11 subjects, each running 21 weeks with a certificate on passing the final assessment.
Who is eligible
- Any learner in India — school students, undergraduates, postgraduates, working professionals — regardless of board or institution.
- No entrance test or prior qualification needed to enrol in most courses; specific advanced courses may list prerequisites.
- NCERT courses (via PM eVidya) are specifically for Class 9-12 students, aligned to the CBSE-based national curriculum.
Documents required
- Valid email ID and mobile number, for registration
- Government ID matching your registered name, if sitting the proctored exam for certification
How to enrol
- Visit swayam.gov.in and register using Google, Microsoft, or manual sign-up — ensure your name matches your official ID exactly, for certificate accuracy.
- Browse the course catalog by subject, or search for a specific course; new enrolment cycles typically open in January and July.
- Enrol in your chosen course(s) for free — video lectures, reading material and assignments are all included at no cost.
- Complete assignments throughout the course; scoring at least 40% in assignments and 40% in the final exam is generally needed to qualify for certification.
- If you want a certificate, register separately and pay the exam fee for the NTA-conducted proctored exam at a designated centre.
- For NCERT/PM eVidya school courses specifically, check ciet.ncert.gov.in or call the PM eVidya IVRS helpline (8800 440 559) for enrolment windows.