Odisha provides fee relief for poor SC and ST students

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed that poor students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories will no longer be required to pay admission or tuition fees upfront when enrolling in state government medical and engineering colleges.

The directive aims to assist meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who often struggle to arrange immediate funds despite clearing competitive exams like NEET. Under the new policy, eligible students can defer these payments for up to six months, allowing them time to receive central or state government scholarships, which typically take three to four months to disburse.

The Chief Minister’s Office stated that the government will soon issue detailed guidelines regarding the eligibility and procedures for this fee deferment facility.