In a district where opportunities for competitive exam coaching were once limited, a new movement is changing the future of thousands of students. Under the leadership of IPS Noorul Hasan, SP Bhandara Police (2015 batch, Maharashtra cadre), the Bhandara Police launched Disha—a free, technology-driven initiative that provides motivation, guidance, teaching, mentoring, and feedback to aspirants preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, MPSC, and other state-level services.
What began as a simple idea to guide 100 students has now grown into a district-wide and statewide educational platform reaching thousands across Maharashtra. For many rural and Marathi-medium students, Disha has become a practical and accessible solution to the lack of quality coaching in their region.
THE PROBLEM: NO COACHING, NO GUIDANCE
The Bhandara district in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region does not have major coaching institutes for competitive exams. Students who want to prepare for UPSC, MPSC, or even Class 3 and Class 4 government exams often have to travel to bigger cities like Nagpur or Pune. This creates financial pressure and logistical challenges.
Explaining the situation, IPS Noorul Hasan, in a conversation with Indian Masterminds, shared, “For many families, paying for coaching, accommodation, and travel is simply not possible. As a result, many capable students give up on their dreams due to lack of proper guidance.”
A PERSONAL INSPIRATION
The idea behind Disha is closely linked to SP Noorul Hasan’s own journey. He shares, “I myself became an IPS officer without any coaching. Back then, if online mediums had existed, I might have joined them. But there was no online option, and going for coaching wasn’t feasible.”
This experience made him think about students facing similar limitations today. If he could create a free platform using technology, why not make quality guidance accessible to everyone?
Initially, the plan was simple—gather 100 students in a classroom and teach them. But then came a bigger realization.
“Instead of putting all our energy into teaching just 100 children in person, we thought — this is the age of the internet. Why not create a platform that thousands or lakhs of children can access?” he explains.
That shift in thinking gave birth to Disha in its current form.
THE FIVE-STEP MODEL OF DISHA
Unlike many initiatives that stop at motivational talks, Disha follows a structured five-step approach:
- Motivation
- Guidance
- Teaching
- Mentoring
- Feedback
1. Motivation
Through a series called “मी कसा घडलो”, officers from the constable level to IPS share their journeys. These real-life stories inspire students and show that success is achievable, even from rural backgrounds.
2. Guidance
Disha provides structured information about various exams—from constable to IAS and IFS. Students understand eligibility, syllabus, preparation strategy, and timelines.
3. Teaching Through Technology
A professional studio was set up inside the police department—a 15×15 room equipped with a digital board, internet, cameras, and broadcasting facilities.
From here, classes are conducted and uploaded on YouTube and the Disha website. Teachers are hired and supported to ensure quality content. The platform also collaborates with established coaching institutes, which provide video lectures of selected officers.
All content is completely free.
4. Mentoring at Police Stations
Disha is not only online. It also has a strong offline mentoring component.
Every month, 100 students are selected from each police station in the district. Across Bhandara, around 1,000 students receive direct mentoring from police officers.
Mr Hasan says, “At every police station, we have selected children, and our officers mentor them there. This reduces fear of police and builds a positive relationship.”
5. Regular Feedback Through Tests
Monthly test series are conducted both online and offline. Students who prefer offline mode can come to the Bhandara center. Others can take tests online.
This hybrid model ensures accessibility for students in villages as well as towns.
FROM 100 STUDENTS TO THOUSANDS
When Disha began around June–July last year, the target was just 100 students. Today, the numbers tell a different story.
In one of the early tests, 7,000 to 8,000 students participated. Around 1,000 were selected for structured mentoring, but the open platform benefits many more.
The Disha YouTube channel has crossed over 2 lakh views—a major achievement for a small district like Bhandara.
Currently, 5,000 to 7,000 students are regularly accessing guidance, teaching, mentoring, and feedback.
IPS Noorul Hasan reflects, “Technology helped us expand beyond our expectations.”
COMMUNITY POLICING THROUGH EDUCATION
Disha is not only about exam preparation. It is also strengthening community policing. Bhandara has about 800 villages and a population of around 16 lakh. Through digital outreach, the police are now connected with youth across the district.
The department also runs parallel programs like Jagruk Nasha Mukti Abhiyan (Drug Awareness Campaign) to educate students about the dangers of substance abuse.
The officer further explains, “When we educate children and make them aware about drugs and careers, the public perception of police changes. Respect for police has increased significantly.”
Additionally, initiatives like One Police Station, One Library have connected 18 libraries to police stations. Under One Police Station, One Degree College, police stations adopt colleges and conduct guidance sessions there.
These efforts have improved communication between police and youth and helped in better handling of law-and-order situations.
CHALLENGES IN BUILDING DISHA
The journey was not easy. IPS Noorul Hasan recalls, “The biggest challenge was how to proceed. Everything was a grey area at first. Step by step, as ideas developed, we moved forward.”
The team had to build infrastructure, design courses, manage test series, handle applications, create login systems, prepare study material, and coordinate teachers—all while continuing regular policing duties.
Gradually, the structure became stronger, and the initiative expanded.
A MESSAGE FOR ASPIRANTS
For students who feel limited by geography or financial constraints, SP Noorul Hasan has a clear message:
“Today, there are many online mediums available for free. You just need to identify quality initiatives like Disha and follow them sincerely. You don’t need paid coaching to succeed.”
Disha covers guidance for a wide range of careers—from constable to IPS to IAS, and forest guard to IFS. The unique feature is that real serving officers share their experiences, making the guidance practical and authentic.
THE ROAD AHEAD
While Disha is already gaining popularity across Maharashtra, especially among Marathi-medium students, SP Noorul Hasan believes it has even greater potential.
The goal now is to expand awareness so that more students across the state can benefit from free, structured, and reliable exam preparation support.
From a simple classroom idea for 100 students to a digital platform reaching thousands, Disha shows how technology, thoughtful planning, and community involvement can bridge educational gaps in rural India.
Under the leadership of IPS Noorul Hasan, SP Bhandara Police, Disha is not just an initiative—it is a complete support system for aspirants who once believed quality coaching was beyond their reach.
