Bhubaneswar: In a bid to improve digital access to students, the Odisha Cabinet on Monday approved a Rs 393.62-crore scheme to provide free high-speed Wi-Fi facilities in 601 government and aided colleges across the state over the next three years.
The scheme – Odisha Shikshanet – Empowering Students through a Free Wi-Fi Internet Facility to All Colleges and Universities, will be implemented during the financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29, Chief Secretary Anu Garg told reporters after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
As part of the initiative, every authenticated student will be entitled to up to 1 GB of free internet data daily within the campus for academic, research and skill development activities.
The proposed rollout will build on the first phase of the programme, which has already covered 130 colleges. The expanded facility is expected to benefit more than six lakh students and faculty members across government and aided higher education institutions.
The project will include installation of Wi-Fi infrastructure, bandwidth arrangements, network management, cybersecurity measures and operation and maintenance support. A centralised monitoring dashboard will also be introduced to oversee service delivery, network security, connectivity uptime and utilisation.
The facility will enable students to access e-books, digital libraries, virtual classrooms, SWAYAM and other massive open online courses (MOOCs), research databases, competitive examination materials and digital skill development platforms. It will also facilitate access to e-governance services, including SAMS, HIMS and scholarship portals.
The initiative is expected to particularly benefit students from rural and remote areas as well as economically weaker sections by reducing the digital divide and ensuring more equitable access to educational resources.
Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Digital India initiative and Odisha Vision 2036, the scheme is aimed at strengthening the state’s digital higher education infrastructure and supporting the broader goals of Viksit Odisha and Viksit Bharat.
