The Policy Planning Body under the Skill Development and Technical Education Department has recommended a significant increase in reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) students in technical and professional courses across Odisha. Additionally, the panel has proposed introducing a new 11.25% reservation for the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in these fields.
If approved by the government, this would mark the first time SEBC students receive a dedicated 11.25% quota in medical and engineering education. The existing reservations for SC and ST would also be enhanced, with SC rising to 16.25% and ST to 22.50%. This move aims to align the reservation policies in technical education with those in higher education, ensuring greater equity for marginalised communities.
The recommendations were adopted during a meeting of the Policy Planning Body on December 22, 2025, chaired by Department Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia. Attendees included the Vice-Chancellor of Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT), the Director of Technical Education, the Chairman of the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE), representatives from the Health Department, and other stakeholders. A letter detailing the decisions, issued by Additional Secretary Sukant Kumar Pradhan, has been sent to relevant departments for implementation.
Currently, Odisha’s medical and engineering courses offer 8% reservation for SC and 12% for ST, with no provisions for SEBC. The proposed changes would apply to engineering, medical, diploma, ITI, and other professional programs. The panel has forwarded the recommendations to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department for necessary action.
In a bid to bring transparency to nursing admissions, the body has suggested transferring the responsibility for preparing merit lists and conducting counselling to the OJEE. It also recommended that OJEE handle examinations for Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) courses. This proposal has been sent to the Health and Family Welfare Department.
The meeting also approved the OJEE calendar for the 2026-27 academic year, which has since received government approval. As per a notification from Under Secretary Rachana Swain on January 9, applications will begin on January 27, 2026, with the examination scheduled for March 26, 2026. Counselling is set to start in the second week of June, and all admissions are targeted to conclude by August 15, 2026.
Other key decisions from the meeting include extending the contract of TCS iON for conducting computer-based tests for another year, increasing the fee for question paper preparation from Rs 300 to Rs 500, and initiating the selection process for a Vice-Chairman and members of the OJEE Committee.
These reforms, if implemented, could significantly impact access to professional education in Odisha, addressing long-standing demands for inclusive policies.
