Odisha Raises Hostel Scholarships for SC/ST Students. A Big Boost from December 1, 2025
The state government of Odisha has made a significant decision to increase the scholarship and allowance amounts for SC/ST students living in hostels under MMCPY. This step is aimed at providing better support amid rising prices of food and essential items, ensuring that boarders have access to improved living and nutritional standards.
What Has Changed: Scholarship & Mess-Allowance Hike
Pre-Matric Scholarship (Nursery/Shishu Vatika → Class X)
- For boys, the annual amount has been raised from ₹ 10,500 to ₹ 16,000.
- For girls, it has been increased from ₹ 11,000 to ₹ 17,000 per annum.
- These amounts are calculated for the standard 10-month academic period.
- Students residing in special/urban “ANWESHA” hostels, which aim to support SC/ST students, will also receive an enhanced pre-matric grant of ₹17,000 (up from ₹11,000).
Post-Matric / Mess-Management Allowance (Classes XI–XII)
- For hostellers in higher secondary (Class XI & XII) hostels run by the relevant departments, the mess allowance has increased to ₹16,000 annually for boys.
- For girls, it has been raised to ₹ 17,000 per annum.
The new scholarship and allowance rates will take effect on December 1, 2025.