Bhubaneswar, May 2: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched a bold vision to transform the state into India’s leading "knowledge hub."
During a national workshop on the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), he outlined reforms and investments to modernize Odisha’s education system.
Majhi emphasized the state's commitment to becoming a center for learning and innovation, with an allocation of Rs 41,273 crore for the education sector in 2025-26. This funding aims to build world-class infrastructure, including the Godabarish Adarsha Vidyalaya scheme, which will establish modern schools in all rural areas.
To promote inclusivity, the state has introduced a 11.25% reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in higher education, along with the 'Shahid Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Yojana' to reduce ST student dropouts.
The state also signed an MoU with IGNOU to offer technical courses in Odia, breaking language barriers in education.
Addressing the gathering, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised Odisha’s cultural and educational legacy. He said the state reflects a unique blend of tradition and learning, shaped by luminaries such as Sarala Dasa, Fakir Mohan Senapati, and Bhima Bhoi.
Pradhan noted that nearly 70 per cent of Odisha’s population is below 44 years of age, calling it a significant demographic advantage. He stressed the need to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), currently at 23 per cent, to surpass the national average of 29 per cent by 2036.
State Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said this program is a “thinking camp” for shaping a developed Odisha. He said the state has secured over Rs 700 crore under the PM-USHA scheme and has appointed new provosts in 14 universities to enhance academic standards.
The event also saw the launch of the ‘Chief Minister’s Internship Guidebook’ and the ‘ShaktiShree’ mobile app to empower youth.
