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Summary:

In Chennai, India, many students preparing for competitive exams face challenges in finding affordable and suitable study spaces. Due to the rising costs and limited availability of private study halls, many resort to studying in public parks and playgrounds, enduring discomfort and distractions. While the government and some organizations are offering solutions like free study spaces and libraries, demand often outstrips supply. Students are calling for more accessible and well-equipped study spaces within their neighborhoods.

News Article:

Chennai Students Overwhelmed by Study Space Scarcity, Seek Public Solutions

Chennai, India – December 23, 2025 – As competitive exam season heats up, a growing number of students in Chennai are struggling to find adequate and affordable spaces to study. The lack of suitable study environments is forcing many to utilize public parks and playgrounds, highlighting a critical need for more accessible resources.

“Wherever you turn in Anna Nagar, a new private study hall is coming up, but the affordable ones are already full,” said Varadhan S., a TNPSC exam aspirant from Cuddalore, who shares a small hostel room with three others. Like many, he studies outdoors, braving mosquitoes and inadequate facilities.

The situation is not unique. Students preparing for exams such as JEE and TNPSC say noise, discomfort, and lack of proper amenities in public spaces impede their concentration. A major request from students is the building of small, dedicated study spaces that can be put up easily for students to use.

While the government and some organizations are responding, demand remains high. Councillor T.V. Shemmozhi reports that a free study space is under construction in Anna Nagar I Block, while the Naan Mudhalvan study hall, though free, fills up rapidly. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is working to address this with the construction of coworking and learning spaces such as the Mudhalvar Padaippagam, and plans to establish 27 such centres across the city.

Existing public libraries like the Anna Centenary Library and the Connemara Public Library are experiencing a surge in usage, especially from civil service aspirants, but space is limited.

For students like Partheepan P. and M. Malasri, both TNPSC aspirants, the solution is simple: “If every neighborhood had a free study space, WiFi facilities in all libraries, it would ease the pressure on aspirants like us.” The lack of free and accessible study areas is increasingly seen as a barrier to opportunity for students across the city.

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