The Odisha Cabinet late on Monday approved a series of proposals, including a ₹ 393.62-crore scheme to provide free Wi-Fi facilities across 601 government and aided colleges. It lifted the limit on attempts for the civil services examination for general category candidates and gave the go-ahead to a nearly ₹ 100-crore water conservation project in Balangir.
The general category candidates below 42 will be eligible to appear in the examination without any restriction on the number of attempts. Candidates belonging to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes are permitted nine attempts. There is no restriction on the number of attempts for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates.
General category candidates were earlier allowed a maximum of six attempts.
The free Wi-Fi initiative, titled ‘Odisha Shikshanet, Empowering Students through a Free Wi-Fi Internet Facility to All Colleges and Universities’, will be implemented over three years from 2026-27 to 2028-29. Every student will be entitled to up to 1 GB of free high-speed internet data daily within the campus for academic, research and skill development purposes. The scheme is expected to benefit over 600,000 students and faculty members in its first phase. The Cabinet approved a tender worth ₹ 99.99 crore for the construction of an in-stream storage structure across the Indra/Sundar river, a tributary of the Tel river, near Patharla village in Titilagarh block of the Balangir district. The project is scheduled to be completed within 30 months to help conserve excess river water during the monsoon for use during lean periods. Nearly 90% of Odisha’s annual rainfall occurs between June and October, resulting in substantial river flows that eventually drain into the sea. The project is expected to ensure sustainable domestic water supply to around 12 villages in Titilagarh and Bangomunda blocks. The Cabinet approved amendments to the Odisha Civil Services (Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination) Rules, 1991, removing the restriction on the number of attempts.
It will involve installation of Wi-Fi infrastructure, bandwidth arrangements, network management, cybersecurity measures and operation and maintenance support. A centralised monitoring system will be put in place to track connectivity, network security, service delivery and data utilisation. The facility will provide access to e-books, digital libraries, virtual classrooms, open online courses, research databases, competitive examination materials and digital skill development platforms. Students will be able to access e-governance services and scholarship portals. The stored water will support animal husbandry, fisheries and other livelihood activities.
