Finance
The Odisha State Cabinet has made a historic decision to implement 11.25% reservation in admissions for students from Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) at state public universities and government-aided upper secondary and higher education institutions. This decision will go into effect in the academic year 2025-26.
The action intends to improve access, equity, and inclusion in higher education by improving the Gross Enrollment Ratio and expanding possibilities for Odisha’s neglected and disadvantaged groups. The reservation policy would be applied consistently to all state public universities and government-aided institutions under various departments, including School & Mass Education, Higher Education, Odia Language and Literature & Culture, and Sports & Youth Services.
With this decision, the state government has ensured that reservations will be made for students from several categories, including ST (22.5%), SC (16.25%), SEBC (11.25%), PwD (5%), and ESM (1%). This effort is consistent with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes promoting equity and inclusion in education. The decision is likely to help marginalized students while also promoting diversity in Odisha’s higher education institutions.
