In a significant push to empower civil services aspirants from the Northeast, NEXT IAS Institute and Helping Hands NGO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the North East Civil Services Talent Discovery and Access Mission (NECTDAM).

The agreement, signed on March 18 in New Delhi between Er B Singh and Robin Hibu, seeks to identify and nurture serious candidates preparing for the Civil Services Examination through a structured, mentorship-driven programme.

Under the initiative, selected aspirants will receive personalised guidance from retired IAS, IPS and IES officers, along with expert faculty support, regular progress assessments, AI-based performance analysis, and live mock tests. The programme also promises world-class infrastructure, dedicated hostel facilities for outstation students, and intensive interview training modules.

The mission places special emphasis on inclusivity, with scholarships prioritising economically disadvantaged yet meritorious candidates, female aspirants, and children of martyrs from armed forces and police backgrounds. A portion of seats will also be reserved for talented candidates from sports backgrounds.

Officials associated with the initiative said NECTDAM aims to build a strong pipeline of candidates from the Northeast into India’s prestigious civil services, while instilling values of discipline, ethics, and public service. Application and scholarship details are expected to be announced soon.