The Odisha government has announced major reforms in the education sector, including the establishment of four greenfield universities, two new government engineering colleges, and free textbooks for Class IX and X students.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi made the announcement while presenting the State Budget 2026–27, highlighting the government’s focus on strengthening higher education and improving student welfare across Odisha.
The new greenfield universities will be set up in Kendrapara district, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, and Jharsuguda. These institutions will follow modern academic models aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and offer innovative postgraduate programmes.
Additionally, two new government engineering colleges will be established in Paradeep and Bolangir to expand technical education capacity. The government also plans to upgrade Odisha University of Technology and Research and Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology into world-class technical institutions.
To support industry needs, a Centre of Excellence in Mining and Metallurgy will be set up at the Government College of Engineering in Keonjhar.
The state has allocated ₹37,485 crore for education, skill development, and technical education. Welfare measures include free textbooks for secondary students, free uniforms for younger students, and expansion of the World Skill Centre with new campuses in Sambalpur and Berhampur.
These initiatives aim to enhance access to quality education, promote skill development, and prepare students for future employment opportunities.
