Bhubaneswar, Nov 10 (UDN): In a major push towards digital education, the Odisha government has approved a ₹393.62-crore scheme to provide free high-speed Wi-Fi facilities across government and aided colleges in the state.
The State Cabinet has cleared the flagship initiative, titled ‘Odisha Shikshanet – Empowering Students through a Free Wi-Fi Internet Facility to All Colleges and Universities’, which will be implemented over three years, from the financial year 2026-27 to 2028-29.
Under the scheme, free, secure and high-speed internet connectivity will be extended to 601 government and aided colleges across Odisha. The initiative will build on the first phase of the programme, which has already covered 130 colleges.
As part of the facility, every authenticated student will be entitled to up to 1 GB of free internet data per day within the college campus. The service is intended to facilitate academic learning, research activities and skill development.
The project will involve the installation of Wi-Fi infrastructure, provision of internet bandwidth, network management, cybersecurity arrangements and regular operation and maintenance support. A centralised monitoring dashboard will also be introduced to oversee network performance, service availability, security and effective utilisation of the facility.
The free internet facility is expected to expand students’ access to a wide range of digital learning resources, including e-books, digital libraries, virtual classrooms, SWAYAM and other Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Students will also be able to access research databases, competitive examination materials and digital skill development platforms.
Additionally, the connectivity will facilitate access to important e-governance services, including the Student Academic Management System (SAMS), Higher Education Management Information System (HIMS) and online scholarship portals.
According to the government, the initiative is expected to benefit more than six lakh students and faculty members across government and aided higher education institutions in Odisha.
Students from rural, remote and economically disadvantaged backgrounds are expected to gain significantly from the programme, as it will reduce dependence on personal mobile data and provide more equitable access to online educational resources.
The scheme is aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Digital India initiative. It also supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 9 and 10, focusing on quality education, infrastructure development and reducing inequalities.
With this initiative, the state government aims to strengthen the digital infrastructure of higher education institutions and create more inclusive learning opportunities, contributing to its broader vision of Viksit Odisha 2036 and Viksit Bharat.
