GPS
Green Passage Scheme
6.6/10The "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.
States / UT: Odisha
Nodal department: Higher Education Department
Scheme for: Family
Scheme profile
Categories: Education & Learning
Sub-categories: Scholarships and student finance
Target beneficiaries: Individual
Tags: Scholarship, Financial Assistance, Orphan, Higher Education
Details
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.
Benefits
- Exemption of Fees: 1. 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. 1. The institutions will also provide free accommodation and food to such students. 1. In the case of Government Institutions fees will be exempted at the time of admission on submission of required documents by the student. 1. 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. 1. 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
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.
Eligibility
- 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.
How useful is this scheme?
A practical look at this scheme for citizens
AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.
- Accessibility6.0
- Financial impact9.5
- Rural utility7.0
- Awareness4.5
- Simplicity2.0
- Inclusivity7.0
What problem does this scheme solve?
The Green Passage Scheme provides essential support for children without parents, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key challenges addressed
- Access to higher education for orphans and children who lost parents due to COVID-19.
Most beneficial for
- Children without biological or adoptive parents
- Children who lost parents during the COVID-19 pandemic
Likely challenges
- Complex application process
- Awareness among potential beneficiaries
Practical insights for citizens
Practical for eligible beneficiaries but requires significant effort to navigate the application process.
Rural challenges
- Limited awareness of the scheme
- Difficulties in accessing required documents
Implementation bottlenecks
- Dependency on local authorities for verification
Awareness challenges
- Low awareness among target beneficiaries
Application analysis
- Application mode
- Offline
- Documents burden
- Moderate
- Verification complexity
- High
- Office dependency
- High
- DBT dependency
- None
- CSC support
- Limited
- Estimated citizen effort
- High
Estimated beneficiary reach
Benefit analysis
- Benefit type
- Cash and fee exemptions
- Benefit frequency
- One-time reimbursement for fees
- Benefit practicality
- High, as it covers various educational expenses.
- Financial meaningfulness
- High, as it can significantly reduce the financial burden of education.
- Long-term impact
- Positive, as it enables higher education opportunities for vulnerable children.
Plain-language guidance
The Green Passage Scheme helps children without parents access free higher education. It covers various fees and provides accommodation and food.
- Who should apply
- Children without biological or adoptive parents and those who lost parents during COVID-19.
- Who may struggle
- Individuals unfamiliar with the application process or lacking required documents.
- Best application route
- Apply through the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) with necessary certificates.
This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.
Application Process
Offline
Case 1: If the child is or was an inmate of a Child Care Institution, the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) will issue the certificate to avail of the benefits of the Green Passage Scheme.
Case 2: If the child is under foster care/ care of a guardian, the DCPO will issue the said certificate based on the recommendation of the Child Welfare Committee and the income certificate from Tahasildar.
Case 3: In the case of children of COVID-19 victims, they have to submit the Specially Cared Child Certificate/ I-Card for identification and income certificate from the concerned Tahasildar for consideration.
Following annexures to be used for this purpose,
Annexure-I: Application for availing benefits under Green Passage Scheme to be submitted to the DCPO with acknowledgment.
Annexure-II: Recommendation by Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for availing benefits under Green Passage Scheme.
Annexure-III: Certificate to avail benefits under Green Passage Scheme to be issued by the DCPO.
Clarifications
Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).
- When Was The "Green Passage Scheme" Launched?
The "Green Passage Scheme" was launched in the year 2016-17.
- Which Department Manages This Scheme?
The "Green Passage Scheme" is managed by the Higher Education Dept., Govt. of Odisha.
- What Amendments Were Made To The Scheme During The COVID-19 Pandemic?
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.
- What All Type Of Fees Gets Exempted Through 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.
- Are There Any Benefits Other Than Fee Exemption?
Yes, the institutions will also provide free accommodation and food to such students.
- How Will The Fees Be Reimbursed In Case Of Non-Government Aided Colleges?
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.
- Where Can I Find The Link To The Application Form For The "Green Passage Scheme"?
The Application Form for the "Green Passage Scheme" can be found at - https://dhe.odisha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-06/GREEN%20PASSAGE-4-10.pdf
- Is There Any Income-Related Eligibility Criteria For This Scheme?
Yes, the annual income of the guardian/ fit person/ surviving parent (from all sources) does not exceed ₹ 8,00,000.
- Is There Any Criteria With Respect To The Type Of Course That The Student Should Be Pursuing In Order To Be Eligible For This Scheme?
Yes, 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 duration after Class-12.
- What Shall Be The Process Of Application If The Child Is Or Was An Inmate Of A Child Care Institution?
If the child is or was an inmate of a Child Care Institution, the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) will issue the certificate to avail of the benefits of the Green Passage Scheme.
- Where Can I Find The Format For The Recommendation By Child Welfare Committee?
The recommendation by Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for availing benefits under Green Passage Scheme can be found in Annexure-II of the scheme guidelines.
- What Shall Be The Process Of Application For The Children Of COVID-19 Victims?
In the case of children of COVID-19 victims, they have to submit the Specially Cared Child Certificate/ I-Card for identification and income certificate from the concerned Tahasildar for consideration.
- What Shall Be The Process Of Application Child Is Or Was An Inmate Of A Child Care Institution?
Case 1: If the child is or was an inmate of a Child Care Institution, the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) will issue the certificate to avail of the benefits of the Green Passage Scheme.
- Is The Death Certificate Of Parent/Parents A Mandatory Document?
Yes, the Death Certificate of the Parent/Parents should be submitted mandatorily along with the application.
Official links
References
- Notification
- https://dhe.odisha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-09/33498.pdf
- Application Form
- https://dhe.odisha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-06/GREEN%20PASSAGE-4-10.pdf
Apply
Apply nowOpens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the purpose of Green Passage Scheme?
- Green Passage Scheme is a government welfare initiative designed to support Family, Individual through benefits related to Education & Learning, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
- Who can apply for Green Passage Scheme?
- Eligibility for Green Passage Scheme may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
- What benefits are offered under Green Passage Scheme?
- Benefits under Green Passage Scheme may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
- Which department manages Green Passage Scheme?
- Green Passage Scheme is managed by Higher Education Department and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
- Can users apply online for Green Passage Scheme?
- Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Green Passage Scheme through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
- Is Aadhaar mandatory for Green Passage Scheme?
- Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
- Where can users apply for Green Passage Scheme?
- Applications for Green Passage Scheme may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
- What documents may be required for Green Passage Scheme?
- Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
- Is income certificate required for Green Passage Scheme?
- Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under Green Passage Scheme.
- Is Green Passage Scheme available in all states?
- No, Green Passage Scheme is primarily available for eligible residents of Odisha and may be implemented through state government departments and local administrative offices.
- Can residents outside Odisha apply for Green Passage Scheme?
- Eligibility for Green Passage Scheme is generally limited to residents of Odisha unless otherwise specified in the official scheme guidelines.
- Can students apply for Green Passage Scheme?
- Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for Green Passage Scheme depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
- Is scholarship amount provided under Green Passage Scheme?
- Green Passage Scheme may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
- Can CSC centres help users apply for Green Passage Scheme?
- Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
- How can users check the latest updates for Green Passage Scheme?
- Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
- Can beneficiaries track application status for Green Passage Scheme?
- Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
- Where can users get help for Green Passage Scheme in Odisha?
- Users in Odisha may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
- Which nearby public services may help with Green Passage Scheme applications?
- Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.