- Odisha recorded 14,758 additional undergraduate admissions, increasing the total from 1,64,179 to 1,78,937.
- Recruitment is underway for 1,819 teaching positions across government degree colleges and 17 state universities.
- The government has created 48 new Principal posts and sanctioned 262 additional non-teaching posts across 17 universities.
Bhubaneswar, November 6, 2026: Odisha’s higher education sector has recorded a significant increase in undergraduate admissions following the implementation of the Gyanodaya – KG to PG Free Education Scheme. The state government has also announced plans to strengthen colleges and universities by filling teaching vacancies and creating additional academic and administrative positions.
The progress was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj at the Higher Education Department’s conference hall on Thursday.
The meeting discussed the implementation of the Gyanodaya scheme, recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff, State Selection Board examinations and infrastructure development under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).
Undergraduate Admissions Increase by 14,758
According to figures reviewed at the meeting, regular undergraduate admissions in Odisha increased from 1,64,179 in the previous academic session to 1,78,937 in the current academic session.
This represents an increase of 14,758 students following the introduction of the Gyanodaya scheme.
Several aspirational districts recorded particularly high admission percentages.
- Kalahandi: 99.09%
- Koraput: 98.82%
- Balangir: 95.57%
- Malkangiri: 95.37%
- Nuapada: 94.64%
The scheme aims to reduce financial barriers and improve access to higher education, particularly for students from economically weaker families.
Government Plans to Fill 1,819 Teaching Vacancies
The state government is accelerating recruitment to address staff shortages in colleges and universities.
Recruitment for 385 Assistant Professor (Stage-I) posts across 66 government degree colleges is currently underway.
Additionally, 17 state universities are processing recruitment for 1,434 teaching positions across the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor categories.
Together, these recruitment drives cover 1,819 teaching positions.
48 New Principal Posts Created
To strengthen academic administration, the government has created 48 new Principal posts in government degree colleges.
With this development, all 66 government degree colleges in Odisha now have sanctioned Principal positions. Previously, only 18 colleges had such sanctioned positions.
The move is expected to improve institutional leadership and administrative functioning.
262 New Non-Teaching Posts in 17 Universities
The government has also sanctioned 262 new non-teaching posts across 17 state universities following an administrative rationalisation exercise.
The newly created positions include:
- Junior Assistants: 69
- Assistant Librarians: 49
- Senior Assistants: 37
- Librarians: 30
- Section Officers: 17
- Senior Librarians: 17
- Assistant Registrars: 10
- Administrative Officers: 10
- Deputy Controllers of Examinations: 8
- Assistant Controllers of Examinations: 7
- Deputy Registrars: 4
- Budget-cum-Accounts Officers: 2
- Physical Education Officers: 2
These positions are intended to strengthen administrative support and improve the functioning of state universities.
SSB Recruitment and PM-USHA Projects Reviewed
The meeting also reviewed recruitment activities conducted by the State Selection Board (SSB).
Over the past two years, the SSB has completed examinations and declared results for more than 2,800 posts. It has also recently issued notifications to fill another 1,557 vacancies across different cadres.
Minister Suryabanshi Suraj directed officials to ensure effective implementation of departmental schemes and timely completion of ongoing infrastructure projects under PM-USHA.
Higher Education Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aravind Agrawal, Director Kali Prasanna Mohapatra and other senior officials attended the review meeting.
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