Odisha Government Medical and Engineering Colleges Drop Advance Fee for SC/ST Students

By the Shiksha Nerd Counselling Team · 2 September 2026 · ~3 min read

Odisha’s chief minister has announced that SC/ST aspirants will no longer pay any advance fee when joining government medical or engineering colleges – a move that could ease cash‑flow worries for thousands of families.

On September 1, 2026, Odisha’s chief minister Naveen Patnaik Majhi declared that the state will not demand any advance fee from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students who secure seats in its government‑run medical and engineering colleges. The announcement, reported by ET Education, Careers360 and Devdiscourse, hits the headlines because the advance fee has long been a stumbling block for many deserving candidates.

Until now, every student who cleared the merit list for a government medical or engineering college was asked to pay a lump‑sum amount weeks before the academic year began. That sum, though not quantified in the public notices, was enough to make families scramble for loans or postpone other essential expenses. By removing this requirement, the state is effectively turning a cash‑flow crisis into a paperwork exercise.

Who gains the most? All SC and ST candidates who receive a seat in any of Odisha’s government medical or engineering institutions. The waiver applies uniformly across the board – whether the student is joining a premier medical college in Bhubaneswar or an engineering institute in Rourkela. The benefit is purely financial; the merit‑based allocation, reservation percentages and seat‑distribution rules stay exactly as they were.

What changes in the admission timeline? Previously, after the merit list was published, students had to clear the advance‑fee deadline before they could confirm their seat during counseling. With the fee gone, the only monetary step left is the regular tuition payment, which is typically due after the first semester starts. This shift shortens the pre‑enrollment window and reduces the risk of losing a seat due to delayed payment.

It is important to note what the policy does not cover. Private medical and engineering colleges in Odisha continue to follow their own fee structures, which often include an advance component. Similarly, the waiver does not affect other categories of students; general‑category candidates must still meet the usual financial requirements. Families aiming for private institutions should therefore keep their budgets unchanged.

A counsellor’s honest take: the move is a genuine relief for SC/ST families, but it is not a free‑ride. Tuition, hostel fees, books and daily living costs remain significant, and many parents still need to plan their finances carefully. The advice is simple – treat the waived advance fee as extra cash that can be redirected towards study material or a modest emergency fund, rather than assuming the entire cost of the course is now covered.

What should you do now?

1. Gather your SC/ST caste certificate, latest mark‑sheet and domicile proof well before the counseling dates are announced.
2. Keep an eye on the official notification for dates and document requirements.
3. When you receive a seat allotment, confirm it through the online portal; the advance‑fee field will be absent for SC/ST categories.
4. Plan your budget for the remaining tuition and ancillary expenses, using the saved amount wisely.

Frequently asked questions

Will I still have to pay any fee at all?

No. The state has removed the advance fee entirely for SC/ST candidates. The only payment you will encounter later is the regular tuition fee, payable according to each college’s schedule.

Does this affect the merit‑based seat allocation?

The merit list and reservation percentages remain unchanged. The waiver only alters the financial transaction after a seat is allotted; it does not influence ranking or seat distribution.

How do I prove my SC/ST status to benefit from this rule?

Upload a valid SC/ST caste certificate issued by the Odisha government during the online counseling registration. Ensure the certificate is recent (within the last three years) and matches the name on your academic records.

Reported across 8 news outlets including ET Education, Careers360, Devdiscourse. Details can change — always confirm dates and fees on the official website.