Odisha students’ union elections on October 15 after eight-year hiatus

Students’ union elections are set to return to colleges and universities across Odisha on October 15, 2026, after an eight-year hiatus. Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj announced the detailed schedule on Monday, October 5, 2026, following a meeting with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

The elections, which have been suspended since 2018, will be conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee and Supreme Court guidelines. This decision is expected to restore campus democracy and provide students with opportunities to develop leadership skills at the college level, a commitment made by the BJP in its 2024 election manifesto.

Election Schedule and Key Dates

The Higher Education Department, through Notification No. 53237/HE dated October 5, 2026, issued by Joint Secretary Mousumi Nayak, outlined a condensed 10-day process for the elections. This rapid timeline aims to prevent prolonged disruption to academic activities and minimize the potential for campus violence, based on what Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

Colleges and universities will issue their election notifications on October 7, 2026. The entire process, from nomination filing to the oath-taking ceremony, is scheduled to be completed before the Dussehra holidays.

Eligibility Criteria for Candidates

Specific eligibility criteria have been established for candidates contesting the students’ union elections. Undergraduate candidates must be between 17 and 22 years of age as on the date of notification, while postgraduate candidates can be up to 25 years old. All candidates are required to have at least 75% classroom attendance and must not have any academic arrears in the year they contest.

Only regular, full-time students of the concerned institution are eligible. Students enrolled through distance education or under the public-private partnership mode are barred from contesting. In addition, candidates with previous criminal records or pending disciplinary proceedings are disqualified. A student can contest for an office-bearer post only once and for an executive member post twice.

Campaign Rules and Regulations

Strict rules have been put in place to regulate election campaigns and ensure a fair and transparent process. Candidates are permitted to spend a maximum of ₹5,000 on their election campaign and must submit expenditure accounts within two weeks of result declaration, which will be uploaded on the HIMS Portal. Financial support from political parties is explicitly prohibited.

Printed posters and pamphlets are not allowed; only handmade posters at authorized locations are permitted. Meetings and rallies within campuses require prior written permission, and campaign activities outside the campus are restricted. Relying on manipulated and AI-generated fake content is specifically prohibited during the election process. The Higher Education Department has directed that elections must remain independent of political parties, with District Nodal Officers overseeing and monitoring the conduct of elections in their jurisdictions. A penalty of ₹1,500 will be imposed on each candidate if the polling area is not cleaned within 48 hours of polling conclusion.

Context and Background of the Elections

Students’ union elections in Odisha were last held in 2017 and have been suspended since 2018. The previous BJD government cited reasons such as Cyclone Titli, campus violence, and the Covid-19 pandemic for the suspension. The current BJP government had pledged to revive student union elections in its 2024 election manifesto. Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj stated, “We had also promised in our election manifesto that these elections would be conducted. After formation of our government in 2024, we spent 2025 addressing various issues on campuses, and in 2026 we are now moving ahead with student union elections.”

Student organizations, including the National Students’ Union of India, had been demanding the restoration of campus elections. The announcement has led to renewed political activity on campuses, with student wings of major political parties like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) stepping up outreach. Ipsita Sahoo, BCJD president, stated that the party has “always supported student body polls.” The elections are viewed as an opportunity for political parties to connect with young voters and gauge their acceptance among Gen Z voters. If a campus lacks a conducive environment or has low student strength, colleges can adopt alternative nomination methods.

Written by Nishit Kumar

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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