Applications for Plus 3 admission to begin on April 16 under NEP 2020 framework

The Department of Higher Education, Odisha, has officially announced the commencement of admission applications for +3 (Undergraduate) courses for the academic session 2025-26. As per the notification, the admission process will be conducted in line with the guidelines of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The application process will begin on April 16, 2025, and students seeking admission to various +3 degree colleges across the state will be required to submit their applications through the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal. This centralized digital platform has been instrumental in streamlining the admission process for higher education in Odisha in recent years.

The new academic session for +3 courses is scheduled to begin from July 10, 2025. This shift aligns with the NEP 2020 reforms, which emphasize flexibility, multidisciplinary learning, and student-centric approaches in higher education.

Other Key Decisions

In a major step towards streamlining the academic calendar and ensuring timely admissions, the Government of Odisha has decided to initiate the admission process for Postgraduate (PG) and two-year B.Ed., M.Ed., and B.H.Ed. courses for the upcoming academic session 2025-26. 

This decision was announced recently by the Higher Education Department with a focus on academic preparedness and students' long-term interest.

Alongside PG and professional courses, the government has also resolved to begin the Undergraduate (UG) admission process soon for the 2025-26 academic year. This decision has been taken keeping in mind the future prospects of students and to avoid delays in the academic schedule.

For the academic session 2025-26, the UG admission process will be conducted as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 guidelines. Under the NEP framework, students will have the flexibility to choose from various academic combinations, such as:

Single Major with Two Minors
Double Majors
Three Minors

This multidisciplinary structure is expected to promote holistic learning and cater to diverse academic interests and career goals of students.

Furthermore, the government has targeted to commence UG classes from July 10, 2025, ensuring that the academic year runs smoothly and on schedule. With this early start, it is expected that classes, examinations, and result declarations will all be completed on time, benefiting students with timely progression in their educational journey.

The Higher Education Department has urged students to stay updated through the official SAMS portal and be ready with necessary documents to avoid last-minute issues. The timely start of the admission process is expected to reduce academic backlogs and help institutions align with the NEP's vision of flexible, quality, and outcome-oriented education.