SchemesThursday, 2 July 2026·The Hindu - National
Odisha cabinet approves Gyanodaya scheme: free education from KG to PG, ₹5,467.55 crore outlay
Odisha approved the Gyanodaya - Shiksharu Samruddhi scheme on July 1, 2026, with ₹5,467.55 crore planned over five years.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On July 1, 2026, the Odisha cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved the Gyanodaya - Shiksharu Samruddhi scheme to make education free from KG to PG, with an estimated outlay of ₹5,467.55 crore over five years.
Key specifics
- The scheme begins with the 2026–27 academic session and waives admission fees.
- It covers Classes IX to XII in government and government-aided schools.
- UG and PG students in regular mode at State Public Universities, government colleges and government-aided colleges are eligible.
- The first-year expenditure is estimated at ₹895.57 crore, with ₹5,467.55 crore over five years.
- Self-financing, unaided, PPP-mode, professional and technical courses are excluded from the scheme.
Exam lens
Scheme question type: education welfare, eligibility, exclusions, and budget outlay; remember Odisha, July 1 2026, Mohan Charan Majhi, ₹5,467.55 crore, and KG-to-PG free education.