Bhubaneswar, Nov 9: The State Cabinet has approved the implementation of the flagship scheme "Odisha Shikshanet – Empowering Students through a Free Wi-Fi Internet Facility to all Colleges and Universities" with a total outlay of Rs 393.62 crore over a period of three years (FY 2026-27 to FY 2028-29).

The scheme will extend free, secure and high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity to 601 Government and Aided Colleges across Odisha, building upon the successful Phase-I implementation in 130 colleges. Every authenticated student will receive up to 1 GB of free internet data per day within the campus for academic, research and skill development purposes.

The project includes installation of Wi-Fi infrastructure, bandwidth provisioning, network management, cybersecurity, and operation & maintenance support. A centralized monitoring dashboard will ensure efficient service delivery, network security, uptime and optimal utilization.

The facility will support access to e-books, digital libraries, virtual classrooms, SWAYAM and other MOOCs, research databases, competitive examination resources, digital skill development platforms and e-governance services such as SAMS, HIMS and Scholarship portals.

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The initiative is expected to benefit over 6 lakh students and faculty members across Government and Aided Higher Education Institutions, particularly students from rural, remote and economically weaker sections, by bridging the digital divide and promoting equitable access to quality higher education.

Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Digital India, SDGs 4, 9 & 10, and Odisha Vision 2036, the scheme will strengthen Odisha's digital higher education ecosystem and contribute towards building a Viksit Odisha and Viksit Bharat.