In a significant step toward making higher education more accessible, the Higher Education Department of the Government of Odisha has successfully refunded a total of ₹69,23,10,253 (₹69.23 crore) to 1,11,678 undergraduate students.
The refunds cover admission fees paid by students during the first phase of the UG admission process for the 2026-27 academic session.
This large-scale refund follows the implementation of the state’s ambitious Gyanodaya – Shiksha Ru Samruddhi scheme, which aims to provide free education from kindergarten (KG) to postgraduate (PG) levels in eligible government and government-aided institutions. The scheme was formally rolled out after the first phase of UG admissions had already concluded, leading to the decision to reimburse students who had already deposited their fees.
Students are advised to immediately check the bank accounts they provided in their Common Application Forms (CAFs) on the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal to confirm whether the refund has been credited. For those who have not yet received the amount due to incorrect bank details or failed transactions, the department has announced that a dedicated link will soon be made available on the SAMS Student Login. Students will be able to use this facility to correct their bank information and facilitate the refund process.
The Higher Education Department has urged all affected students to visit the official SAMS portal at www.samsodisha.gov.in for the latest updates and instructions. The move is expected to provide substantial financial relief to thousands of families across the state and reinforce the government’s commitment to removing financial barriers in higher education.
Earlier announcements by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj had indicated that full refunds would be processed for students admitted in government and government-aided colleges during Phase-I. With the current disbursement, the department has fulfilled a major promise under the Gyanodaya scheme, which is projected to benefit lakhs of students annually by waiving admission and tuition fees in eligible institutions.
Students and parents are encouraged to verify their account details carefully and stay updated through official channels to avoid any delays in receiving the refunded amount.
