Odisha Cabinet Approves Free Education Scheme From KG To Postgraduate Level From 2026-27 | Education and Career News
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The move to introduce free education is expected to improve enrolment, retention and reduce dropout rates, while enabling more students to pursue higher education.
CM Mohan Charan Majhi said the cabinet cleared the ‘Gyanodaya-Shiksharu Samruddhi: KG to PG Free Education’. (File/Representative)
The Odisha cabinet on Wednesday approved a new scheme called “Gyanodaya-Shiksharu Samruddhi: KG to PG Free Education”, which will provide free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level in all government and government-aided educational institutions, reported PTI.
Set to be implemented from the 2026–27 academic session, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi described scheme as a historic and first-of-its-kind initiative in the country.
Under the scheme, eligible students studying in regular courses will receive a full waiver of admission fees. It will cover students in government and aided schools from classes 9 to 12, as well as those enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in state public universities, government colleges, and government-aided colleges. Since education up to class 8 is already free in Odisha, this move effectively extends free education up to the postgraduate level.
Scheme Not Applicable To Private Institutions
However, the scheme will not apply to self-financing courses, unaided institutions, PPP-mode institutions, or professional and technical programmes. The government stated that the initiative is intended to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent deserving students from continuing their education, while also improving enrolment, retention, and reducing dropout rates.
The scheme is expected to benefit around 32 lakh students and will involve an estimated expenditure of Rs 895.57 crore in the first year and about Rs 5,467.55 crore over five years. The state government believes the initiative will significantly strengthen access to higher education for economically weaker and disadvantaged groups across Odisha.
Errors Found In School Textbooks
Earlier, a controversy erupted after allegations surfaced that the new textbooks for Classes 1 to 8 contained over 1,600 errors, including spelling mistakes and incorrect references to eminent personalities. Following this, the Odisha government on Wednesday stated it would soon distribute corrected textbooks to school students, dismissing claims that the new books contained more than 1,600 errors. School and Mass Education Department Secretary N Tirumala Naik said the actual number of mistakes was “much lower” than what has been claimed, the news agency reported.
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