Odisha Refunds ₹69.23 Crore Plus 3 Admission Fees to Over 1.11 Lakh Students
Bhubaneswar: In a major relief for students pursuing higher education, the Odisha Higher Education Department has refunded ₹69.23 crore in Plus 3 (Undergraduate) admission fees to 1,11,678 students enrolled during the first phase of admissions for the 2026-27 academic session.
The refund follows the implementation of the state’s ambitious Gyanodaya – Shiksha Ru Samruddhi initiative, which aims to provide free education from Kindergarten (KG) to Postgraduate (PG) level in eligible government and government-aided educational institutions.
Since admission fees had already been collected before the scheme came into effect, the government decided to reimburse students who had paid the fees during the initial admission process.
As a result, more than one lakh students have now received refunds directly into their bank accounts.
The Higher Education Department has advised students to verify the bank account details submitted through their Common Application Form (CAF) on the SAMS Odisha portal to ensure successful receipt of the refunded amount.
Officials have also informed that some transactions may have failed due to incorrect or inactive bank account details.
To address such cases, a dedicated correction link will be made available through the SAMS Student Login portal, enabling students to update their banking information and facilitate the refund process.
Students have been encouraged to regularly visit the official SAMS Odisha website for updates and further instructions regarding pending refunds.
The initiative is expected to significantly reduce the financial burden on students and their families while strengthening the state’s commitment to accessible and inclusive higher education.
The move aligns with Odisha’s broader vision of improving educational opportunities and supporting students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
