Odisha Govt Scraps NUA Scheme, Introduces New Financial Aid Program for Students

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced the discontinuation of the Nutana Unnata Abhilasha (NUA) Odisha scheme, launched by the previous BJD administration, and will soon introduce a new initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students.

Addressing the Odisha Assembly on Friday, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj revealed that the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government has decided not to allocate funds for the NUA scheme in the 2024-25 budget. Instead, the government is working on finalizing the framework for a new scheme titled ‘Financial Assistance to UG and PG Students’, which will be implemented in the near future to offer direct financial support to students pursuing higher education.

Minister Suraj criticized the previous BJD government for allocating ₹300 crore to the NUA scheme, alleging that ₹95 crore was spent primarily on cultural events in colleges rather than benefiting students directly. The new scheme, he emphasized, will focus on tangible financial aid for students, ensuring resources are utilized effectively to support their education.