The foundation’s president, Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood, unveils groundbreaking initiatives aimed at enhancing opportunities for aspiring civil servants.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — The Zakat Foundation of India’s new building will host a state-of-the-art coaching centre for UPSC Civil Services aspirants in the upcoming session. Construction work on the building is in full swing and the facility is expected to be completely ready soon.
In an exclusive interview with Clarion India, the Zakat Foundation President Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood unveiled groundbreaking initiatives aimed at enhancing opportunities for aspiring civil servants.
Historically, the Zakat Foundation has provided coaching and residential facilities in selected UPSC coaching centres across the country, offering 90 percent financial assistance to 100 candidates annually, based on merit. However, a transformative shift in strategy is imminent.
The foundation is in the final stages of preparing its new three-acre building in Dasna, Uttar Pradesh, situated approximately 25 km from New Delhi. Mahmood said an agreement has been reached with the Sheikhul Hind Trust of Maulana Mahmood Madani to facilitate this endeavour. Starting next session, the facility will cater to 200 girls and 300 boys, offering coaching for both UPSC and other competitive examinations.
In addition to comprehensive coaching, the new facility will provide essential amenities such as a library and accommodation for selected candidates. Agreements have been forged with multiple coaching institutes to ensure top-quality instruction. Notably, 24 candidates coached by Zakat Foundation achieved success in the recent Civil Services Examination.
This year, 51 Muslim candidates from various parts of the country secured positions in this prestigious examination, marking a significant milestone since 2016. Mahmood attributed this success to organised preparation efforts and emphasised the need for identifying and nurturing talent from within the community.
Highlighting the increase in Muslim candidates’ success rate, Mahmood stressed the importance of structured preparation for UPSC and other competitive exams. He urged Muslim parents and social organisations to support and guide talented youth towards civil services careers, citing the abundance of available opportunities.
Mahmood lamented the trend of talented individuals seeking opportunities abroad or opting for private-sector employment after completing their education. He emphasised the potential in non-UPSC government jobs, which create approximately five lakh positions annually.
Mahmood also mentioned the provision of free coaching in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, initiated by Zakat Foundation three years ago, resulting in 23 successful candidates thus far. He underscored the foundation’s efforts to raise awareness through orientation programmes and social media campaigns.
Beyond UPSC preparation, Zakat Foundation of India is actively engaged in 25 social welfare projects, including daycare and scholarship programmes for the children of labourers. Mahmood revealed that while some projects are funded by Zakat donations, many services are accessible to the wider Muslim community.
As the foundation prepares to inaugurate its new coaching centre, Mahmood reaffirmed its commitment to empowering aspiring civil servants and fostering excellence within the Muslim community.
