Bhubaneswar: Poor and meritorious students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Odisha will not have to arrange admission fees upfront when joining government medical and engineering colleges, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed.Under the new arrangement, eligible students will be allowed to take admission without depositingadmission, tuition and other prescribed fees at the time of admission and for up to six months thereafter. The state government will issue detailed guidelines on the eligibility criteria and implementation process shortly.The decision is aimed at students who clear highly competitive entrance examinations but face difficulty arranging money immediately after securing a seat. The government said the gap between admission and the release of scholarship funds can create a financial hurdle for students from economically weaker families.

Why Odisha has taken the decision

According to the Chief Minister's Office, SC and ST students generally receive scholarships from both the Central and Odisha governments. However, scholarship processing and disbursement can take around three to four months after the required formalities are completed.The new system is intended to bridge that gap. Students can complete their admission first and pay the applicable fees after receiving their scholarship money, rather than arranging the entire amount immediately.This is particularly relevant for students entering professional courses such as medicine and engineering, where admission-related expenses can become an immediate financial burden for families with limited resources.

Fee payment will be deferred, not permanently waived

The announcement is important to understand correctly.The government has directed that eligible SC/ST students will not have to deposit the fees upfront and can defer payment for up to six months. Available information does not establish a blanket permanent waiver of all college fees. Students are expected to deposit the applicable admission and tuition fees after receiving their scholarship funds.The exact list of fees covered and the procedure students will need to follow will become clearer once the Odisha government issues its detailed guidelines.

Move follows reports of students struggling at admission

The decision comes after concerns over meritorious students being unable to immediately arrange admission money despite qualifying for professional coursesThe New Indian Express reported the case of 19-year-old Soumya Ranjan Sahu, from a financially disadvantaged family in Kendrapara district, who had struggled to arrange money for counselling and admission to the MBBS course at SCB Medical College in Cuttack. The report said Majhi took note of the issue before issuing the directive.The government now intends to ensure that a temporary shortage of funds does not prevent eligible students from taking up seats they have earned through competitive examinations.

What happens next?

The Odisha government will issue detailed guidelines specifying how the fee-deferment facility will work and which students will be covered.Until those guidelines are released, students and colleges will need to wait for clarity on the documentation, eligibility requirements and payment procedure.The immediate policy direction, however, is clear: eligible poor SC/ST students entering government medical and engineering colleges will get up to six months to arrange their applicable fees instead of having to pay them at admission.

Speaking before graduating students, researchers and academic leaders, the minister said institutions such as NISER are not merely awarding degrees but are carrying forward a legacy of scientific excellence, innovation and national service. He urged young graduates to build upon the vision of renowned nuclear scientist Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha and contribute to India's scientific and technological advancement.

The convocation ceremony was attended by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and several senior scientists, academicians and policymakers. A total of 260 students from Integrated MSc, MSc-PhD, MSc and PhD programmes received their degrees during the event.

Dr. Singh said the occasion represented the transfer of responsibility from one generation of scientists to the next. He noted that the graduates would be expected to contribute not only to scientific research but also to national development priorities in the decades ahead.

Highlighting India's progress in the atomic energy sector, the minister said the country's nuclear programme, originally envisioned by Dr. Bhabha for peaceful purposes, has entered a new phase under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to him, reforms introduced in recent years have strengthened indigenous capabilities and encouraged greater self-reliance in strategic technology sectors.

He pointed to the development of India's first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor as a significant milestone in the country's nuclear journey. The project, he said, reflects India's growing scientific capability and its long-term commitment to energy security.

The minister also linked scientific advancement with India's broader development ambitions. He said the 260 graduating students would become part of a larger national effort aimed at transforming India into a developed nation by 2047 while pursuing sustainable growth and environmental commitments.

Dr. Singh stressed that scientific innovation would be central to addressing future challenges, including energy demands, climate concerns and technological competitiveness. He said the government expects young researchers and innovators to develop solutions that support both economic growth and sustainability.

Referring to India's nuclear energy roadmap, he said the country's installed nuclear power generation capacity currently stands at 8,780 MW and is targeted to increase to 22,380 MW by 2032. Expanding clean energy infrastructure, he noted, remains a key component of India's long-term energy strategy.

The minister also highlighted recent policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the country's scientific ecosystem. He referred to the Union Budget announcement regarding the development of four Rare Earth Corridors across the country, including one in Odisha. The initiative is expected to support critical mineral supply chains and strengthen India's strategic manufacturing capabilities.

Dr. Singh further praised the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, saying it has encouraged interdisciplinary learning, research and innovation. He noted that institutions such as NISER have emerged as important centres for advanced scientific education and research under the evolving academic framework.

Concluding his address, the minister congratulated the graduating students and encouraged them to view their degrees as a commitment to nation-building. He expressed confidence that the new generation of scientists would help shape an innovative, self-reliant and globally competitive India in the years ahead.