Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, June 12, 2026, announced that his government has taken what he called a historic step toward making education completely free and universal across the state — from kindergarten through postgraduate level. The declaration, made via a post on X, marks a significant welfare commitment as the BJP government completes two years in office in Odisha.

Context

Writing in Odia, CM Majhi stated: 'ଆମ ସରକାର ଶିକ୍ଷାକୁ ପ୍ରକୃତ ଅର୍ଥରେ ଦେୟମୁକ୍ତ ଓ ସାର୍ବଜନୀନ କରିବା ଦିଗରେ ଐତିହାସିକ ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ନେଇଛନ୍ତି' ['Our government has taken a historic step toward making education truly free and universal']. He added that through a completely fee-free education system from KG to PG, every student in the state — particularly those from economically weaker sections — will benefit. The post was tagged with the hashtags #2YearsofLokankaSarakar and #BikasharaDharaOdishaSara, framing the announcement as part of a broader two-year governance milestone.

Policy Backdrop

The BJP formed its first-ever government in Odisha following the 2024 state assembly elections, ending over two decades of BJD rule. Expanded fee waivers and scholarships were listed among the incoming administration's early welfare priorities. State-level BJP governments have previously introduced full or partial fee exemptions in school and higher education in states such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, using education subsidies as a key instrument to improve access for lower-income groups. The Odisha move continues this state-driven approach, operating alongside rather than solely relying on centrally sponsored schemes.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries identified by CM Majhi are students from economically weaker sections across Odisha. A KG-to-PG fee waiver, if fully implemented, would cover tuition and related costs from early childhood education through university-level postgraduate programmes — a scope that goes beyond most existing state-level interventions. Families in rural and semi-urban Odisha, where out-of-pocket education costs remain a significant barrier to higher enrolment, stand to gain the most under such a framework.

What's Next

Specific details — including the scheme's formal name, funding sources, and operational start date — are yet to be officially published. Budgetary allocations and implementation guidelines are expected to be elaborated during the 2026-27 Odisha budget session. Enrolment data from universities and colleges over the next two academic years will be a key indicator of the policy's on-ground reach. Observers will also watch whether the announcement is followed by a formal legislative or administrative order.

If implemented at the scale announced, the KG-to-PG fee-free framework could reshape access to higher education in Odisha and set a benchmark that other state governments may be compelled to respond to ahead of future electoral cycles.