Odisha diploma exam pattern revised: first-year students to take annual exams from 2026-27

In short

The Odisha state government has approved annual examinations for first-year diploma students, replacing the previous two semester-end exams.
The new examination pattern will be implemented from the 2026-27 academic session, with the single exam tentatively scheduled for April or May.
This change is limited to first-year students; the existing semester pattern will continue for second and subsequent years.
The decision aims to simplify the exam schedule for first-year diploma students and reduce dropout rates.
Technical institutions found responsible for examination irregularities will face a penalty of Rs 50,000 and must cover re-examination costs.

First-year diploma students in Odisha will transition to an annual examination system, moving away from the previous two semester-end examinations per academic year. The Odisha state government has approved amendments to the examination rules of the State Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (SCTE&VT) to set up this change.

Official notification screenshot — Screenshot of the official page at sctevt.odisha.gov.in

The revised examination pattern is set to come into effect from the 2026-27 academic session. This modification is intended to simplify the examination schedule for students in the first year of diploma courses and to reduce the dropout rates observed among them.

Changes to First-Year Diploma Examinations

Under the newly approved system, first-year diploma students will appear for a single examination at the end of their academic year. This annual exam is tentatively scheduled to be held in April or May. Previously, these students were required to sit for two separate exams: one at the end of the winter semester and another after the summer semester.

The Skill Development and Technical Education Department has instructed the Director of Technical Education and Training-cum-vice-Chairman of SCTE&VT to incorporate these changes into the existing rules. The decision to switch to an annual pattern for first-year students was initially made in June 2026, with the SCTE&VT having already informed affiliated engineering schools and polytechnics about the impending change. A revised syllabus for first-year diploma engineering courses was also introduced from the 2026-27 academic session in anticipation of this shift.

Scope of the Revised Exam Pattern

The revised examination pattern is specifically limited to first-year diploma students. The existing semester pattern will continue to be followed for students in their second and subsequent years of diploma courses. This government decision does not mark a complete departure from the semester system across all diploma courses in the state.

The Skill Development and Technical Education Department has requested the SCTE&VT to publish the approved amendments in an extraordinary issue of the Odisha Gazette. Also, the revised rules are to be communicated to all affiliated government and private institutions to ensure widespread awareness and smooth implementation.

Penalties for Examination Irregularities

In a separate but related development approved earlier this year, the state government has also introduced penalties for technical institutions found responsible for irregularities during examinations. This measure aims to ensure the integrity and fairness of the examination process.

Should a flying squad report any irregularity at an institution, a re-examination will be arranged for the affected students. This re-exam will be conducted at the nearest government polytechnic or a designated institution. The institution responsible for the irregularity will be required to bear the full financial burden associated with the re-examination, with no costs passed on to the students.

Item	Amount
Penalty for irregularities	Rs 50,000
Examination form-fill-up fee per student for re-exam	Rs 1,100

The institution concerned will face a penalty of Rs 50,000 for the reported irregularities. In addition, it will be doing paying the examination form-fill-up fee of Rs 1,100 for each student who appears for the re-examination. This ensures that the entire cost of re-examination due to institutional irregularities is borne by the institution itself.

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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