Odisha refunds Rs 69.23 crore college fees to 1.11 lakh students
By TUF News Desk · Published 31 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
For 1,11,678 degree college students in Odisha, money they paid months ago is now coming back. The state Higher Education Department has transferred Rs 69.23 crore in admission fees directly to their bank accounts, under the Gyanodaya free education scheme.
The refund fixes a timing problem. The first phase of undergraduate admissions for the 2026-27 session had already closed, and students had paid their admission fees to their colleges, before the fee waiver was formally enforced. Rather than leave those students out of pocket, the department is returning what they paid.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj has asked students to check the bank account linked to their Common Application Form (CAF) on the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal to confirm the money has arrived. Students who have not received the refund will be able to update their bank details once the department opens a correction window on the official SAMS portal.
What the Gyanodaya scheme covers
The Gyanodaya-Shiksha Ru Samruddhi scheme, also called the KG-to-PG Free Education scheme, took effect from the 2026-27 academic session. The Odisha Cabinet approved it in July 2026. It covers eligible students in regular undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at state public universities, government colleges and government-aided private institutions.
That reach matters for students at affiliating state universities such as Utkal University, whose affiliated colleges admit large numbers of degree students across the state each year. The state government has estimated that around 32 lakh students across eligible tiers could eventually come under the wider free education umbrella.
The waiver has limits, and students should know them. Professional and self-financing courses, including BEd and MEd programmes, were excluded when the scheme was introduced. The refund announced this week covers admission fees already paid by eligible degree students. It does not cover other costs such as hostel charges, transport or examination fees that fall outside the fee waiver.
What students should check now
The first thing to do is simple: look at the bank account given in the Common Application Form. That is the account the department used for the direct transfer. If the refund is there, nothing further is needed.
If it has not arrived, the department says a correction link will be made available shortly on the SAMS student login dashboard. Students can use it to fix bank details and complete the pending transfer. The minister has advised students to keep an eye on the portal rather than assume the payment has failed.
For families weighing the cost of a degree, fee waivers and refunds change the calculation. Our guide to scholarships for Indian university students sets out the other forms of fee support worth checking alongside a state scheme like this one.
The refund is also a test of how the scheme works in practice. A waiver announced on paper only helps students if the money, or the exemption, actually reaches them. In this round, at least, the department has put Rs 69.23 crore back into student accounts instead of asking colleges to adjust fees after the fact.
Frequently asked questions
Who received the Odisha college fee refund?
A total of 1,11,678 degree college students who paid admission fees in the first phase of undergraduate admissions for 2026-27, before the Gyanodaya fee waiver took effect.
How much money did Odisha refund to students?
Rs 69.23 crore, transferred directly to the bank accounts students linked to their Common Application Forms on the SAMS portal.
What is the Gyanodaya scheme?
The Gyanodaya-Shiksha Ru Samruddhi scheme provides free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level for eligible students in Odisha’s government and government-aided institutions.
What should a student do if the refund has not arrived?
Check the bank account linked to the Common Application Form on the SAMS portal. The Higher Education Department will open a correction window on the student login dashboard for updating bank details.
Frequently asked questions
Who received the Odisha college fee refund?
A total of 1,11,678 degree college students who paid admission fees in the first phase of undergraduate admissions for 2026-27, before the Gyanodaya fee waiver took effect.
How much money did Odisha refund to students?
Rs 69.23 crore, transferred directly to the bank accounts students linked to their Common Application Forms on the SAMS portal.
What is the Gyanodaya scheme?
The Gyanodaya-Shiksha Ru Samruddhi scheme provides free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level for eligible students in Odisha's government and government-aided institutions.
What should a student do if the refund has not arrived?
Check the bank account linked to the Common Application Form on the SAMS portal. The Higher Education Department will open a correction window on the student login dashboard for updating bank details.
Sources: Careers360, Education Times, Edex Live