Bhubaneswar: Odisha cabinet on Wednesday approved the rollout of free education from kindergarten (KG) to postgraduate (PG) level under ‘Gyanodaya-Shiksharu Samruddhi’ scheme from the current academic year, fulfilling a key promise announced by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on the BJP govt’s second anniversary on June 12.Announcing the decision after the cabinet meeting, the CM said the state will spend Rs 895.57 crore in the first year and Rs 5,467.55 crore over five years to implement the scheme.“The initiative will remove financial barriers to education and ensure equal opportunities for students irrespective of their economic background. This transformative educational reform will create equal opportunities for every student and take Odisha’s progress and human resource development to new heights,” he said.The scheme will provide a complete waiver of admission fees for students enrolled in regular courses at govt and govt-aided institutions. Education from KG to Class VIII is already free in Odisha. With the new initiative from the 2026-27 academic session, students from classes IX to XII in govt and govt-aided schools, besides those pursuing undergraduate and PG courses in state public universities, and govt and govt-aided colleges will also get free education, completing the govt’s vision.However, the scheme will be restricted to students enrolled in regular courses in eligible govt and govt-aided institutions. Self-financing courses, unaided institutions, PPP-mode institutions and courses, as well as professional and technical programmes, will remain outside its ambit.Officials said the scheme is aimed at ensuring that no student is forced to discontinue education due to financial constraints. By easing the burden on families, particularly those from economically weaker sections, the govt expects the move to boost enrolment, improve retention and reduce dropout rates.The govt expects the scheme to benefit more than 32 lakh students annually, making it one of the largest investments in the education sector by the state.Aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and Odisha Vision 2036 and 2047, the initiative is expected to improve access to education, enhance the gross enrolment ratio and strengthen human capital development.Majhi said the scheme was more than a fee-waiver programme and represented a significant step towards ensuring that every child and youth in Odisha gets an equal opportunity to pursue education regardless of economic status. The initiative reflected the govt’s commitment to empowering families through education, and building a skilled and educated workforce for a developed Odisha, he said.
