10,120 Students Allotted Seats in Second Round of RTE Lottery in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: As many as 10,120 students have been allotted seats in the second round of the centralised online lottery conducted under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, for admission into private schools across Odisha for the 2026 academic session.

The initiative aims to provide free education to children from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Disadvantaged Groups (DG) at the entry level in private institutions.

According to official data, the second phase of online registration was held from April 4 to April 24, 2026, during which 20,377 applications were received through the RTE Paradarshi portal. After scrutiny and verification by Block Education Officers (BEOs), 15,624 applications were found eligible for participation in the lottery.

The centralised online lottery was conducted at 4:00 PM on April 29, 2026, in the chamber of the Director of Elementary Education, Odisha. The process was carried out in the presence of senior officials from the School and Mass Education Department, including representatives of OSEPA, education officers, parent bodies, school authorities, legal experts, and members of civil society organisations.

Officials stated that the lottery was conducted in a transparent manner using the digital system to ensure fair allocation of seats among eligible applicants.

Following the lottery, the admission process for selected students will begin on April 30 and continue until May 18, 2026. Authorities have urged parents and guardians to complete all admission formalities within the stipulated timeline.

To assist applicants, a dedicated helpline number—1800-345-6722—has been made operational to address queries related to the admission process.

The RTE 12(1)(c) provision continues to play a key role in promoting inclusive education by enabling children from disadvantaged backgrounds to access quality schooling in private institutions across the state.