Odisha Gyanodaya Scheme 2026: Free KG to PG Education — Eligibility, Benefits & Latest Update
The Odisha government has launched the Gyanodaya – Shiksha Ru Samruddhi scheme, under which education from KG to PG is free for eligible students. The scheme was approved by the state cabinet on 1 July 2026 and has been implemented from the academic year 2026-27. Odisha is the first state in India to roll out free education from KG to PG at this scale.
In the latest update, the Higher Education Department released the second instalment of Rs 14.34 crore on 25 September 2026 through SAMS. With this, a total of Rs 23.90 crore has been disbursed so far — the first instalment of Rs 9.56 crore was released earlier. Three more instalments of 25% each will follow during the academic year.
Overview
| Scheme name | Gyanodaya – Shiksha Ru Samruddhi |
| Launched by | Government of Odisha (cabinet approval 1 July 2026) |
| Implemented by | Higher Education Department |
| Academic year | 2026-27 onwards |
| What is free | Admission fee, re-admission fee, development fee and all other fees collected at admission |
| Not covered | Examination fees, hostel fees |
| Expected beneficiaries | ~32 lakh students |
| Estimated cost | ~Rs 895 crore per year |
Who Is Eligible?
- Students enrolled in regular undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes in state public universities, government colleges and government-aided colleges (including Sanskrit colleges).
- Students in Classes 9 to 12 in eligible institutions.
- Admission must be secured through the SAMS (Student Academic Management System) portal.
- Students must maintain at least 75% classroom attendance during the academic year (relaxable to 65% in exceptional cases, verified through biometric or digital attendance).
- The benefit is available only once — for a student’s first admission to either a UG or PG programme.
Which Courses Are NOT Covered?
The scheme does not apply to:
- Self-financing courses
- Professional and technical courses such as MBA, MCA, BBA, BCA, B.Ed, M.Ed, LLB, LLM and similar programmes
- Private unaided institutions
- Institutions running under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode
- Distance, open and correspondence courses
Latest Update — Second Instalment Released
The Higher Education Department released Rs 14.34 crore as the second instalment on 25 September 2026. This is 15% of the approved assistance for institutions, disbursed through SAMS. The first instalment of Rs 9.56 crore was released earlier, taking the total disbursed so far to Rs 23.90 crore. Three further instalments of 25% each will be released during the academic year.
Colleges receive the money in phases: 10% after admissions, 15% as the second instalment, and the remaining 75% in three equal instalments. Students who had already paid admission fees in the first round will get a full refund, credited back to the same bank account from which the payment was made.
Fee Regulation for Colleges
To protect students, the government has put a fee regulation mechanism in place. Institutions cannot revise or increase admission-related fees without approval from the State Fee Regulation Committee. Only the fee structure uploaded on the SAMS portal before the admission process will be considered for reimbursement, so colleges cannot inflate fees midway.
How to Avail the Benefit
There is no separate application form for Gyanodaya. Students get the benefit automatically when they:
- Take admission or re-admission through the SAMS portal in an eligible regular UG or PG course.
- Maintain the required 75% attendance (65% in exceptional cases).
- Study in a covered institution — no fee specified under the scheme will be collected from them at admission.
Official SAMS portal: samsodisha.gov.in
FAQs
What is the Odisha Gyanodaya Scheme?
A state scheme providing free education from KG to PG — the government bears admission, re-admission, development and other admission-time fees for eligible students.
Who can benefit?
Regular UG/PG students in state public universities, government and government-aided colleges, plus Class 9-12 students in eligible institutions — admitted through SAMS with 75% attendance.
Are professional courses like MBA and B.Ed covered?
No. Self-financing courses, professional/technical courses (MBA, MCA, BBA, BCA, B.Ed, LLB, LLM etc.), private unaided colleges, PPP-mode institutions and distance courses are excluded.
Do students still pay exam fees?
Yes. Examination fees and hostel fees are not covered — students continue to pay these.
What is the latest instalment update?
Rs 14.34 crore was released on 25 September 2026 as the second instalment; Rs 23.90 crore has been disbursed in total so far.
Is there a separate application form?
No. The benefit applies automatically on SAMS-based admission in an eligible course and institution.
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