By Nageshwar Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, November 9, 2026: Odisha’s KG-to-PG {kindergarten to post graduation} free education scheme has facilitated enrolling of more undergraduate students across the state. About 14,758 more students have enrolled in regular degree courses this academic year compared to the previous year, according to the state Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

Under the Gyanodaya Shiksharu Samruddhi scheme, introduced from the current academic year, a total of 1, 78,937 students have enrolled in regular undergraduate courses, compared to 1, 64,179 in the previous academic session. The scheme provides free education from nursery to postgraduate level in government-run educational institutions, aiming to make education more accessible to students from eligible families.

Several aspirational districts have reported encouraging admission figures under the scheme, with Kalahandi recording the highest enrolment rate at 99.09 per cent. Koraput followed with 98.82 per cent, while Balangir recorded 95.57 per cent. Malkangiri and Nuapada reported enrolment rates of 95.37 per cent and 94.64 per cent, respectively.

The minister said the initiative was helping advance the government’s vision of ‘education for all and higher education for all’ by improving access to higher studies across the state.

The minister said, 48 new principal posts have been created in 48 government degree colleges. With this development, all 66 government degree colleges in the state now have sanctioned principal posts, compared to 18 colleges earlier.

Additionally, 262 new posts have been created across 17 state universities following a rationalisation exercise aimed at improving their administrative and academic functioning.

The state government is also working to fill vacant positions in colleges and universities. Recruitment is currently underway for 1,819 vacant teaching posts, the minister said.

The State Selection Board (SSB) has conducted recruitment examinations and declared results for more than 2,800 vacancies across different categories over the past two years.

For the current year, the board has issued recruitment notifications for 1,557 posts in various categories, an official said.

The minister directed officials to ensure the effective implementation of departmental schemes and complete ongoing projects within the stipulated timelines. He also said that vacant positions would be filled at the earliest to strengthen the functioning of higher education institutions across Odisha.