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In a major announcement regarding the education sector, the Odisha government has declared that education will be provided free of cost from Kindergarten (KG) to Post-Graduation (PG). Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that financial constraints should not hinder any student’s education.

The Odisha government has taken a significant step towards making education a right for every child. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that education in the state will now be free from Kindergarten (KG) through to Post-Graduation (PG). The government claims that Odisha is set to become the first state in the country to implement such a comprehensive and completely free education system.

The Chief Minister made this announcement during a press conference held to mark the completion of his government’s two years in office. He emphasized that no student’s education should be interrupted solely due to a lack of funds. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to progress, and the government is working towards this goal.

Students from Poor Families to Benefit the Most

The Chief Minister stated that children from economically weaker families would reap the greatest benefits from this scheme. Often, talented students are unable to pursue higher education due to the burden of fees and educational expenses. The implementation of this new system will bring significant relief to such students. The government believes that free education will improve the standard of learning in the state and enable more young people to access colleges and universities. This will not only expand the reach of education but also increase future employment opportunities.

121 Schemes Launched in Two Years

Highlighting his government’s achievements, the Chief Minister noted that the state government has launched 121 new development and public welfare schemes over the past two years. These include initiatives related to education, women’s empowerment, the welfare of the poor, and basic infrastructure. He stated that the government’s objective is not merely to launch schemes but to implement them effectively on the ground and ensure the benefits reach the people. The free education scheme is part of this vision. Free education facilities are available in other states as well.

According to media reports, the Kerala government announced free education up to the undergraduate level in government and government-aided colleges during the budget session in January 2026. Prior to this, education in the state was free only up to Class 12. In Tamil Nadu, free education has been provided to students pursuing BA, BSc, and BCom courses in government and government-aided colleges since the 2007-08 academic year.

Lakhs of students have benefited from this scheme. The Maharashtra government has launched a scheme starting from the 2024-25 academic session to waive fees for higher and professional education for women belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and OBC categories. This facility is being extended to families with an annual income of less than ₹8 lakh.