Dakshana Foundation

Dakshana Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation focused on providing world-class educational opportunities to economically and socially disadvantaged gifted students worldwide, with a primary focus on rural India. The Foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) registered charity, an India-approved educational trust, and a Canada registered charity. It was founded by Mohnish Pabrai, who serves as the Founder and Chairman. Dakshana's flagship initiative provides one-year and two-year intensive coaching programmes for IIT-JEE and NEET medical entrance examinations to selected scholars, all on a fully sponsored basis covering coaching, hostel, and food. The Foundation operates campuses including the 109-acre Dakshana Valley Campus at Kadus Village, Maharashtra (about 60 km from Pune), JNV Pune as a Centre of Excellence focused on NEET and AIIMS preparation, and the Charles T. Munger Hall at JNV Bengaluru Urban for JEE preparation. Dakshana works closely with Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) across India and government schools and selects scholars through its proprietary Joint Dakshana Selection Test (JDST), held annually. The Foundation reports that since beginning operations in 2007, IITs in India have accepted over 1,539 Dakshana Scholars out of a total of 2,575 scholars - a success rate of nearly 60 percent. The Foundation reports cumulative impact statistics of more than 9,200 students from impoverished families served, ₹155 crore invested in quality education, and over 7,200 alumni volunteers as of 2023.