Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj introduced the guidelines for the ‘Gyanodaya – Shikshya Ru Samruddhi’ program, offering free education from kindergarten to postgraduate levels. Minister Suraj highlighted the aim to make higher education accessible to all, addressing financial barriers and dropout rates in the state. The initiative covers students in undergraduate and postgraduate programs at designated educational institutions without fee requirements.
The scheme, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, focuses on enhancing student retention and reducing dropout rates. It targets raising Odisha’s Gross Enrolment Ratio to 60% in line with state development visions. However, the initiative excludes self-financing, private, and professional courses like MBA, MCA, and B.Ed., among others. Students need to secure admission through the Student Academic Management System portal and maintain attendance for eligibility.
To support the initiative, the state government will cover admission and readmission fees, development charges, and other fees, excluding examination fees. Institutions must adhere to a fee regulation mechanism for fee revisions, ensuring transparency and approval processes. Odisha stands as the first state to implement free education from kindergarten to postgraduate levels under the ‘Gyanodaya – Shikshya Ru Samruddhi’ scheme.
