GPS

The "Green Passage Scheme" Scheme provides free higher education to children without biological or adoptive parents. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme was revised to as well cover children who lost their both parents or single parent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Launched in 2016-17, the "Green Passage Scheme" Scheme by the Higher Education Dept., Govt. of Odisha provides free higher education to children without biological or adoptive parents. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme was revised to as well cover children who lost their both parents or single parent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this scheme, the fees like application fees, admission/readmission fees, tuition fees, examination fees, hostel admission fees, laboratory fees, library fees, college development fees, etc. will be exempted for eligible students. The institutions will also provide free accommodation and food to such students.

• The child must qualify as any one of the following:

a) The child should be without biological/adoptive parents OR

b) The child should have lost both parents OR

c) The child should have lost a single bread-earning parent OR

d) The child should be residing in a Child Care Institution, OR under foster care OR the care of a guardian OR any fit person/ surviving parent.

• The annual income of the guardian/ fit person/ surviving parent (from all sources) does not exceed ₹ 8,00,000/-.
• The student should be pursuing higher education in any Government or Non-Government Higher Education Institution (i.e., College & University). Here, "higher education" would mean general/professional/ technical education of at least 1 year's duration after Class-12.

> Exemption of Fees:

• The fees like application fees, admission/readmission fees, tuition fees, examination fees, hostel admission fees, laboratory fees, library fees, college development fees, etc. will be exempted.
• The institutions will also provide free accommodation and food to such students.
• In the case of Government Institutions, fees will be exempted at the time of admission on submission of required documents by the student.
• In the case of Non-Government Aided Colleges, fees will be exempted at the time of admission and would be reimbursed by Government on submission of required documents/vouchers by the institution to Government in Higher Education Department.
• In the case of Non-Government Un-aided Institutions, the student will take admission by arranging funds on his/her own and then seek reimbursement from the Government on submission of required documents/vouchers to the Government in the Higher Education Department. Such reimbursement will be limited to ₹ 5,00,000 maximum for the entire duration of the course.