The Center for Competitive examinations was established in the year 2001 at Poona College. It was set up through funding by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of Maharashtra. This funding was continued for some years and later due to some financial imperatives, the state stopped funding the center. Since then, it is the trust and the Poona College that has been sustaining this center on a no profit basis.
The major objectives for setting up this center was to impart necessary skills to aspirants seeking to crack the Union Public Service Commission, State Commission examinations, Bank Probation officers examination, entrance for employment in the Indian Railways and Indian Dockyard, entry into the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) , entry through the Combined Defence Services and Short service Commission. Training for entry in to other public services is also undertaken at this center.
Many of the participants are from the minority community and marginalized sections of society who have had no prior training in this respect. Rather many of them are unaware of these opportunities. In this respect the Centre has done commendable work by spreading awareness among such marginal pockets in the city and even the State of Maharashtra.
Participants come from various parts of the country and many of them have been successful at these examinations. The center also provides some form of relief in fees to the socially and culturally backward communities. As it is a nonprofit programme, the benefits flow directly to the participants. Many of the participants are provided free hostel and also free books and other related material so that they are not excluded from these opportunities.
Many of our participants are from rural moorings and hence lack skills in English language and communication. The center provides language training and other soft skill training free of cost in addition to the various courses and training modules. Those participants who successfully clear their written examinations are further trained free of cost for their ground examinations such as physical training and related tests.
The center is also preparing its participants to become participative citizens of the nation. They are inculcated with the norms and values such as patriotism, good citizenry, secularism and tolerance.