Odisha's KG to PG Free Education Scheme Drives Up Undergraduate Enrolments by Over 14,000

The Odisha government’s KG to PG free education initiative, the Gyanodaya Shiksharu Samruddhi scheme, has led to a measurable increase in undergraduate admissions across the state for the current academic year. According to state Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, regular undergraduate courses saw an increase of 14,758 admissions compared to the previous year.

During a review meeting held on Friday, the minister shared that altogether 1,78,937 students have enrolled in regular undergraduate courses under the new academic cycle, up from 1,64,179 in the previous academic year. The scheme is designed to waive fees for students in government-run educational institutions from nursery school to the post-graduation level, aimed at making education accessible to eligible families.

Aspirational districts recorded high admission rates during this period. Kalahandi recorded the highest enrolment rate at 99.09 per cent, closely followed by Koraput at 98.82 per cent, Balangir at 95.57 per cent, Malkangiri at 95.37 per cent, and Nuapada at 94.64 per cent.

Alongside the enrolment figures, the review meeting addressed the administrative and academic infrastructure of higher education institutions in the state. Steps are being taken to fill vacant teaching and non-teaching posts in colleges and universities, manage recruitment examinations through the State Selection Board, and implement projects under PM-USHA.

As part of infrastructure strengthening, 48 new principal posts have been created across 48 government degree colleges. With this addition, all 66 government degree colleges in the state now have sanctioned principal posts, a significant rise from 18 colleges previously. Additionally, 262 new posts have been created across 17 state universities following a rationalisation process aimed at improving their administration and functioning.

Recruitment efforts are currently underway to fill 1,819 vacant teaching positions in colleges and universities. Officials noted that the State Selection Board has conducted recruitment examinations and declared results for more than 2,800 vacancies across different categories over the past two years, with recruitment notifications issued for an additional 1,557 posts in various categories for the current year.

"The measurable rise in undergraduate admissions following the rollout of Odisha's free education scheme underscores the direct correlation between financial accessibility and educational uptake. For regional development and long-term human capital formation, removing economic barriers at the foundational and higher education levels is a critical step. From a broader economic standpoint, strengthening educational infrastructure, filling administrative vacancies, and ensuring institutional accountability create a more robust foundation for regional workforce development and sustained economic participation." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes