Odisha to Offer Free KG-to-PG Education in State Schools

The government of Odisha announced on Friday that it will provide free education from kindergarten through postgraduate levels in all state-run institutions, a major policy shift unveiled as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party administration marked two years in office. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi made the announcement during a press conference in Bhubaneswar, stating the initiative aims to ensure universal access, particularly for students from economically weaker sections and girls.

The free education policy was one of two significant welfare announcements. The Chief Minister also detailed an expansion of the state’s food security program, now called the Chief Minister Annapurna Yojana. Under the revised scheme, all beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act and the State Food Security Scheme will receive an additional 5 kilograms of rice monthly, raising their total free entitlement to 10 kilograms per person. Officials stated this will benefit approximately 3.28 crore people, about 80 percent of the state’s population, at an annual cost of 8,813 crore rupees.

Presenting a wide-ranging report on his government’s tenure, Majhi highlighted several other...