Odisha waives admission fees for SC, ST students in govt medical, engineering colleges

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed government medical and engineering colleges in the state to waive admission fees for students from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities.

The decision was announced on Monday after Majhi was informed that several meritorious SC and ST students were facing financial difficulties while securing admission, despite qualifying for highly competitive entrance examinations.

Under the directive, eligible students will not have to pay any fees at the time of admission or for six months after joining the institution, according to an official release.

The fee waiver will apply to SC and ST students admitted to government medical and engineering colleges across Odisha. The move is intended to prevent financial constraints from becoming a barrier for students who have secured seats through competitive entrance examinations.

Majhi issued the directive after being apprised of students who had qualified for professional courses but were struggling to arrange the money required to complete admission formalities.

The government has not yet specified which admission-related fees will come under the waiver. It is expected to issue detailed guidelines on the implementation of the decision soon.

The six-month relief will give eligible students additional time after enrollment without the immediate financial burden of admission fees. Further details on the scope of the waiver and its implementation will be outlined in the state government's guidelines.