Bhubaneswar: In a landmark move aimed at expanding access to education, the Odisha Cabinet has approved a first-of-its-kind scheme providing free education for students from kindergarten (KG) to postgraduate (PG) level in government and government-aided institutions.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday. Under the newly approved Gyanodaya–Shiksharu Samruddhi Scheme, all tuition and academic fees for students enrolled in regular courses at government and government-aided educational institutions will be waived from the 2026-27 academic session.
Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Majhi described the initiative as a historic step toward ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent any child from pursuing education.
“Gyanodaya is more than a fee-waiver programme. It is a commitment to guarantee equal educational opportunities for every student in Odisha, regardless of economic background. No student should be forced to discontinue education due to lack of financial resources,” he said.
While education from KG to Class VIII was already free in Odisha, the new scheme significantly expands the coverage to include students studying in Classes IX to XII, undergraduate courses, and postgraduate programmes offered by government universities, government colleges, and government-aided institutions.
The government believes the initiative will make education more accessible, affordable, and inclusive, especially for students from economically weaker and socially disadvantaged families. Officials expect the scheme to improve enrolment rates, increase attendance, reduce dropout levels, and encourage more students to pursue higher education.
According to the Cabinet decision, the state will spend an estimated Rs 895.57 crore during the first year of implementation, while the total expenditure over five years is projected to reach Rs 5,467.55 crore. More than 32 lakh students are expected to benefit annually from the programme.
However, the scheme will be limited to regular courses in government and government-aided institutions. Self-financing courses, private unaided institutions, public-private partnership (PPP) institutions, and professional or technical programmes will remain outside its scope.
The Chief Minister said the initiative aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Odisha Vision 2036, and Odisha Vision 2047, and represents one of the largest investments in education undertaken by the state government.
The Cabinet meeting also approved 12 other proposals relating to eight different departments.
