Odisha Charts Ambitious Education Overhaul to Emerge as ‘Knowledge Hub’

Bhubaneswar: Laying out a comprehensive vision for education-led growth, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday announced a series of reforms and investments aimed at transforming the state into a “knowledge hub” under the National Education Policy 2020.

Speaking at a national-level workshop on NEP implementation in Bhubaneswar, Majhi said the state is focusing on building a future-ready education ecosystem that promotes innovation, skill development and global competitiveness. He noted that the reforms are designed to address structural gaps and modernise the education system in line with global benchmarks.

Emphasising the importance of NEP-2020, the Chief Minister said the policy, introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, represents a transformative shift in India’s education landscape, aiming to position the country as a global knowledge leader.

Highlighting the government’s financial commitment, Majhi announced an allocation of ₹41,273 crore for the education sector in 2025–26, describing it as a long-term investment in infrastructure, quality and accessibility.

To strengthen school education, particularly in rural areas, the state has launched the Godabarish Adarsha Vidyalaya programme with an outlay of ₹12,000 crore. The initiative aims to establish modern schools across all gram panchayats with advanced facilities to ensure equitable access to quality education.

In higher education, the government has introduced 11.25% reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) students. Financial assistance under the Shahid Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Yojana is also being provided to reduce dropout rates among Scheduled Tribe students and improve inclusion.

The Chief Minister further highlighted efforts to promote the Odia language in higher education, noting a collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Open University to offer technical and professional courses in the regional language.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who attended the workshop, underscored Odisha’s strong cultural and educational legacy shaped by luminaries like Sarala Dasa, Fakir Mohan Senapati and Bhima Bhoi. He highlighted the state’s demographic advantage, noting that nearly 70% of its population is below 44 years, and stressed the need to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio beyond the national average by 2036.

State Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj described the workshop as a platform for shaping a developed Odisha, adding that the state has secured over ₹700 crore under the PM USHA Scheme to boost academic infrastructure.

During the event, the Chief Minister released an internship guidebook and launched the ‘ShaktiShree’ mobile app aimed at empowering youth. Senior officials including Aravind Agrawal and Kali Prasanna Mohapatra were also present.