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Odisha approved free KG to PG education, the New Gyanodaya scheme
The Odisha government is in the process of making huge reforms and improvements in the education sector. In one of the major cabinet meetings chaired by CM Mohan Charan Majhi, the ‘Gyanodaya – Shiksharu Samruddhi’ has been announced to be initiated. Under the scheme, free education from KG to PG in all government and government-aided educational institutions will be provided from the 2026–27 academic session. Odisha government claims that the project is one of the largest educational support schemes in the country and will help 32 lakh students annually.
The primary aim of the scheme is to make education and all the stages of education beyond school accessible to all, especially to people from the weaker sections. There are several goals the Odisha government aims for with this project. Improving enrolment and reducing the rates of students dropping out of educational institutions.
Odisha's Free Education Vision Achieved
In Odisha, education from kindergarten to eighth grade was already free. With the recent Cabinet approval, the initiative now benefits students from the ninth to twelfth grades, as well as students in undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs in government and government-aided universities and colleges.
The initiative waives the registration and enrollment fees for eligible students. The initiative's objective is to provide aid to students who have financial conditions that impede them from pursuing education.
Who is Benefiting from the Initiative?
The Gyanodaya – Shiksharu Samruddhi initiative supports students in government and government-aided institutions across the state of Odisha. Eligible beneficiaries of the initiative are:
- Students from government and government-aided institutions in grades IX to XII.
- Students from state public universities.
- Students from government colleges and government-aided colleges who enroll in postgraduate programs.
The initiative is expected to improve access to education for students from rural and financially disadvantaged families.
What Is Covered, and What Is Not?
We understand the announcement has caught the attention of many people, but students are advised to limit their assumptions about the scheme’s coverage.
The fee waiver has only been extended to routine courses from the following:
- Educational institutions owned and managed by the Government
- Government colleges
- Government universities
- Government-aided schools
- Government-aided colleges
- Government-aided universities
The following are not included in the scheme:
- Private unaided institutions
- Self-financing courses
- PPP institutions
- Privately funded institutions
- Professional and technical courses that fall outside the scheme’s eligibility.
Thus, students intending to pursue a professional course are advised to check whether the professional course they wish to pursue is covered in the scheme.
Improving Education with an Investment of ₹5,467 Crore
The Odisha Cabinet approved a five-year budget allocation of ₹5,467.55 crore for the scheme. The first year's budget provision has been estimated at ₹895.57 crore. This investment is the largest made by the state in the education sector and is expected to improve access to quality education substantially.
The government of Odisha expects this scheme to:
- Promote school and college enrolment
- decrease the dropout rate
- promote retention in higher education
- reduce the education-related financial burden on families
- promote equal access to education in every district of Odisha
What Matters About This Decision
Education professionals believe that a limitation of funding is one of the greatest challenges, causing students to end their education following secondary school. The imposition of the different fees required for enrollment, admission, and the various expenses associated with study discourages students, especially those in low-income families, from seeking higher education.
Odisha seeks to fill this gap with its introduction of free education at the postgraduate level within the government system. The state government has indicated that the initiative also supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Odisha Vision 2036 and Odisha Vision 2047 in their focus on providing fairness in access to education, opportunities for improvements in learning outcomes, and investments in the development of human capital.
If executed as intended, the initiative may become a benchmark for other states in the country looking to reform the education system similarly.
Conclusion
The introduction of the Gyanodaya – Shiksharu Samruddhi scheme is a landmark change in the educational policy in Odisha. The state has taken a big step toward widening the avenues and minimizing financial barriers in education by providing free education from KG to PG in government and government-aided institutions. As the scheme will start from the 2026–27 academic session, students and their parents should keep checking the official notifications to stay updated about eligibility criteria, procedures, and instructions for different institutions.
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