For more than 1.11 lakh undergraduate students in Odisha, a fee payment made months ago is now coming back. The state Higher Education Department has refunded Rs 69.23 crore in admission fees to students who paid during the first phase of undergraduate admissions for the 2026-27 academic session, officials said on Thursday, October 29.
The money has been transferred directly to the bank accounts students gave in their Common Application Forms. Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj has asked students to check their accounts and confirm whether the refund has arrived. The refund follows the launch of the Gyanodaya, Shiksha Ru Samruddhi scheme, under which Odisha is providing free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level in eligible government and government-aided institutions.
Rs 69.23 crore to 1,11,678 students
According to the Higher Education Department, a total of Rs 69,23,10,253 has been refunded to 1,11,678 undergraduate students. The students covered are those who paid admission fees during the first phase of the undergraduate admission process for 2026-27.
The department shared the update on social media on October 28, and the minister followed it with a message asking students to verify their bank accounts. The message was clear on one point: students should check the specific account they listed in the Common Application Form, because that is where the refund has been sent.
Why the refund was needed
The Gyanodaya scheme took effect from the 2026-27 academic session. It covers eligible students enrolled in regular undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at state public universities, government colleges and government-aided private colleges.
Because admissions for the first phase had concluded before the scheme was implemented, students in that round had already paid. The refund closes that gap. It puts first-phase students in the same position as students admitted after the free-education announcement, at least as far as the admission fee is concerned.
What students should do now
The first step is simple. Students should check the bank account mentioned in their Common Application Form and look for the refund credit. Bank credits can take time to show up depending on the bank, so a student who does not see it immediately should check again and also check the account details submitted at the time of application.
Some students may find that the money has not arrived. The department has said this can happen when bank account details were incorrect or when a transaction failed. For those students, help is on the way through the SAMS portal, the Student Academic Management System used for admissions in Odisha.
- Check the bank account given in the Common Application Form for the refund credit.
- If the refund has not arrived, a dedicated link will be made available shortly on the SAMS student login.
- Use that link to correct bank details and complete the refund process once it is live.
- Visit the official SAMS Odisha portal, samsodisha.gov.in, for updates and further information.
- Keep bank details ready, and double-check account number and IFSC details before submitting any correction.
Students should use only the official SAMS portal for corrections. The department has said the dedicated link will appear in the SAMS student login, so there is no need to follow links shared through unofficial channels or messages claiming to speed up the refund.
What to watch next
The next step for students who are still waiting is the SAMS link for bank-detail corrections. The department has said the link will be made available shortly, but it has not given a separate date in the update shared so far. Students who need it should keep checking their SAMS student login and the official portal rather than relying on second-hand messages.
Students who have received the refund do not need to take further action on this payment. The practical advice remains the same for everyone: confirm the credit, keep a record of it, and make sure the bank details on record are correct for any future communication from the college or the department.
FAQs
Who has received the Odisha admission fee refund?
Undergraduate students who paid admission fees during the first phase of admissions for the 2026-27 session. The department says 1,11,678 students have received a total of Rs 69.23 crore.
Why was the fee refunded?
The Gyanodaya, Shiksha Ru Samruddhi free education scheme came into effect for 2026-27 after the first phase of admissions had concluded. Students in that phase had already paid, so the department refunded their admission fees.
Where has the refund been sent?
Directly to the bank account each student provided in the Common Application Form. Students should check that account first.
What if my refund has not arrived?
It may be due to incorrect bank details or a failed transaction. A dedicated link will soon be available on the SAMS student login to correct bank details and complete the refund. Check samsodisha.gov.in for updates.
Which institutions are covered by the Gyanodaya scheme?
Eligible students in regular undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at state public universities, government colleges and government-aided private colleges, under the scheme effective from the 2026-27 academic session.
The refund is good news for students who paid first and waited for the policy to catch up. If you are among the 1,11,678 students covered, check your account today, and if the money is not there yet, keep an eye on your SAMS login for the correction link.
