Odisha removes civil services exam cap, launches free campus Wi-Fi initiative

The Odisha government has taken twin policy decisions aimed at enhancing educational access and opportunities for students across the state. In a Cabinet meeting, authorities approved a comprehensive Wi-Fi scheme designed to support digital learning in higher educational institutions while simultaneously lifting caps on civil services exam attempts.

Under the Wi-Fi initiative, enrolled college students will be entitled to access up to 1 GB of complimentary internet data each day strictly for academic purposes. The allocation will be restricted to campus usage, ensuring students can access online learning resources, educational platforms, and research materials without incurring data charges.

The removal of the civil services examination attempt cap represents a significant policy shift, eliminating previous restrictions that limited candidates' opportunities to pursue careers in state administrative services. This measure is expected to provide greater access to civil service preparation for aspirants across the state.

The twin measures reflect the state government's commitment to improving educational infrastructure and removing barriers to higher education and professional advancement. Educational institutions have been requested to implement the Wi-Fi scheme across their campuses, with technical specifications and implementation timelines to be communicated separately.