Odisha CM announces free education from KG to PG in govt. institutions

New Delhi ( Vivek Ojha ) : Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday (June 12, 2026) announced that education from kindergarten (KG) to postgraduate (PG) level in all government institutions in Odisha would be made completely free. The Chief Minister said the initiative would benefit all students in the State, particularly those from economically weaker sections and girls.

In the education sector, Mr. Majhi said the government had taken two historic steps: implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which he said had been pending due to political reasons, and establishment of Godabarish Mishra Model Primary Schools in every panchayat.

In India, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, guarantees free and compulsory elementary education to every child aged 6 to 14 years. Under Article 21-A of the Indian Constitution, this is a fundamental right.

He said that out of 2,200 schools planned in the first phase, foundation stones had been laid for 322. Over the last two years, 26,615 teaching and non-teaching staff have been recruited, he said, adding that 45,000 more teachers would be recruited over three years.