Finance
The Odisha Cabinet gave its approval to the launch of the new “NUA-O Scholarship” program, which will provide students in the state with more access to higher education options at government- and non-government-aided colleges, including aided Sanskrit colleges and unaided private colleges accepting admission through SAMS and overseen by the Higher Education Department.
Students will receive an annual scholarship of Rs 10,000 for girls and Rs 9000 for boys, according to an official press release. Students pursuing UG/PG as above who are from SC/ST communities or the offspring of construction workers will receive scholarships at higher rates of 10,000 and 11,000 for male and female students, respectively.
Students who receive financial aid or scholarships through the KALIA scheme for professional or technical courses will not be eligible. Students who have parents who pay income taxes or who are required to pay income taxes, or who work as regular employees of the government, PSUs, other government agencies, or autonomous bodies, or who receive grants from educational institutions either directly or through blocks, are not eligible for this scholarship.
The programme will cost Rs 3701.08 crore in total over five years, from 2023–2024 to 2027–2028. This historic program ensures that no worthy student is excluded from an excellent education because of financial limitations, reflecting the government’s ongoing commitment to promoting inclusive and high-quality education.
