Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Odisha government has allowed all Engineering and Professional institutions to conduct offline exams for all semesters. In a letter to the heads of the colleges/universities, the State Skill Development and Technical Education Department stated that the Covid-19 situation has improved in the State, and hence, offline exams can be conducted.
According to the letter further stated that – “Since the COVID-19 pandemic situation has improved in the State and as there is no restriction imposed on the educational system by the Special Relief Commissioner, the Government after observation, have been pleased to allow for conducting the semester examination in Engineering and Professional Institutions through offline/ physical mode for restoring the quality of education.”
All the educational institutions, which were earlier shut due to the third wave of the Covid-19 variant Omicron in the State, opened from February 7, after the situation improved.
Besides, schools and colleges were then directed to conduct bridge courses and short-term courses to make up for the loss of study of students during the past two years.
There are 121 private polytechnic and 35 government polytechnic institutions in Odisha with an enrolment number of around 45000 students. Similarly, there are 80 engineering colleges with a total of 40000 seats.
