The Odisha Higher Education Department is set to clear the prevailing confusion over the KG-to-PG admission process with the imminent release of a dedicated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj has announced.
Addressing the media, Minister Suraj assured that the much-awaited SOP will resolve all doubts and streamline admissions across the state. “The confusion regarding KG-to-PG admissions will be removed very soon. A separate SOP is on the way, and once it is issued, all issues will be settled,” he said.
The state government will fully bear the admission fees of students in grant-in-aid institutions. As per the recent Cabinet decision, the government will provide financial assistance to colleges in the 662 and 488 categories, covering the amount that students previously paid. This funding will support college management, including salaries of teachers and staff, purchase of equipment, and day-to-day expenses such as electricity, phone, and internet bills.
The Minister further announced that re-admission fees will also be waived for students. However, the scheme will not apply to self-financing courses or private colleges.
The announcement comes after the state Cabinet approved free education from Kindergarten to Post-Graduation, which had triggered concerns among aided colleges that largely depend on student fees for their operations. Many institutions had worried about meeting administrative costs once students stopped paying fees.
With the government stepping in to bridge this gap through direct funding, students can now look forward to smoother admissions and truly affordable higher education. The detailed SOP is expected to provide clarity on the timeline, quantum, and mode of fund release to colleges.
