Bhubaneswar: In alignment with the state’s ambitious Viksit Odisha 2036 vision, envisioned by Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, the Higher Education Department of Odisha has initiated a series of transformative measures designed to modernize higher learning, promote inclusive access, and foster global academic exposure.
Under the dynamic leadership of Shri Aravind Agrawal, IAS, Secretary of Higher Education, the department is implementing key strategic frameworks that directly address quality, equity, and future-ready governance.
A major milestone under these initiatives is the rollout of the Bidesh Sikhyabruti scholarship scheme under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana.
Targeted exclusively at Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates domiciled in Odisha, this flagship program provides financial support of up to 50 lakh rupees for students pursuing postgraduate and Ph.D. degrees at top 200 QS-ranked foreign universities.
Interested students may apply for the scholarship under this scheme through the OSS Portal from 18.08.2026 to 31.08.2026, notified Department of Higher Education.
Covering tuition fees, living expenses, and airfare, the initiative ensures that merit and ambition are not hindered by financial constraints, paving the way for marginalized communities to access global education.
Alongside global mobility, the department has outlined clear long-term benchmarks to strengthen domestic academic infrastructure. These goals focus on pushing Odisha’s Gross Enrolment Ratio to 50 percent by 2036, establishing higher education institutions across every block, enhancing graduate employability, and expanding multi-disciplinary educational facilities across the state.
Combined with social equity policies such as SEBC reservations and uniform recruitment frameworks for public universities, these efforts reflect a cohesive push toward a vibrant, equitable, and world-class educational ecosystem.