Bhubaneswar: The Higher Education Department in Odisha has refunded admission fees paid during the first phase of undergraduate admissions for the 2026-27 academic session.
A total of ₹69.23 crore has been returned to 1,11,678 undergraduate students, who had deposited fees before the rollout of a major new initiative.
The refunds followed the announcement of the Gyanodaya-Shiksha Ru Samruddhi scheme, under which the state government offers free education from kindergarten through postgraduate levels at eligible government and government-aided institutions. Because the scheme was introduced after the first phase of admissions had already taken place, authorities moved to reimburse the fees students had paid.
Students have been advised to check the bank accounts listed in their Common Application Forms to confirm that the refund has been credited. Those who have not received the amount owing to incorrect account details or failed transactions will soon find a dedicated link in their SAMS student login. This facility will allow them to update their bank information and complete the refund process.
Officials have urged applicants to visit the SAMS Odisha portal at https://samsodisha.gov.in for the latest updates and to ensure their bank details are accurate.