KG to PG Free Education Scheme: Odisha refunds college admission fees to 1.11 lakh students

Odisha has transferred ₹69.23 crore in college admission fee refunds to 1.11 lakh students under its Gyanodaya - Shiksha Ru Samruddhi scheme, also known as the KG to PG Free Education Scheme. The Higher Education Department has credited the amount directly to the bank accounts of eligible degree college students.

The refund process comes after the state government introduced the scheme for the 2026-27 academic session. Since the admission process had been completed before the scheme came into effect, students had already paid the required admission fees to their respective institutions.

To address this, the Higher Education Department initiated the refund process to return the fees to eligible students. The government has now transferred ₹69.23 crore to the accounts of 1.11 lakh beneficiaries as part of the scheme's implementation.

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj has asked students to check their bank accounts and verify whether the refund amount has been credited. Students who have not received the money have been advised to update their bank account details to ensure the successful transfer of funds.

According to the minister, the department will soon introduce a dedicated link on the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) student login portal. The facility will allow students to correct their bank details if they have provided incorrect or outdated information.

Students will be able to use the link to make the necessary corrections and complete the refund process. The facility is expected to help eligible beneficiaries who have not received the amount because of discrepancies in their banking information.

Odisha KG to PG Free Education Scheme: Eligibility and coverage

The Gyanodaya - Shiksha Ru Samruddhi scheme, which became effective from the 2026-27 academic session, aims to provide free education to eligible students from kindergarten (KG) through postgraduate (PG) level.

Under the initiative, the state government has extended financial support to students pursuing regular undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs at state public universities, government colleges and government-aided private colleges across Odisha.

The scheme covers eligible students enrolled in these institutions and is intended to remove financial barriers at different stages of their education. By covering education expenses, the government aims to make higher education more accessible to students from eligible families.

The initiative is also expected to reduce the financial pressure on students and their families, particularly those who might otherwise face difficulties meeting the cost of college education.

The ongoing admission fee refund is part of the scheme's implementation for the 2026-27 academic session. Students who have already paid their admission fees can receive the amount back through direct bank transfers, subject to eligibility and the accuracy of their bank account details.