Kerala Makes College Free for All Arts and Science Students

Students in Kerala no longer have to choose between their dreams and their family's budget. The southern Indian state just announced free education through college for all arts and science students, becoming the first state in India to make this leap.

Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal unveiled the historic policy shift in Kerala's 2026 budget on Thursday. Until now, students in the state only received free education through Class 12, leaving college costs as a major barrier for many families.

The reform applies to all government and government-aided colleges across Kerala. While officials are still calculating the exact cost, they're confident the investment will pay dividends in educated citizens and stronger communities.

The timing couldn't be better. Kerala currently loses an estimated 8,000 crore rupees (nearly $1 billion) every year as students travel abroad or to other states for higher education and training. That's not just money leaving the state, it's potential and talent walking out the door.

To keep that talent home, the government is launching a new Global School focused on modern technology and vocational training. The facility will emphasize emerging fields like techno-economics and future technologies, giving students world-class options without the plane ticket.

The budget also tackles the housing challenge head-on. A new public hostel scheme will launch in three cities (Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Kozhikode) first, ensuring students from rural areas can afford to attend college away from home.

PhD scholars without other fellowships will now receive 15,000 rupees monthly, roughly $180. That support could mean the difference between abandoning research and making the next breakthrough.

The Ripple Effect

This decision reaches far beyond individual students. Local governments will now partner directly with university research teams, bringing academic expertise to community development projects. Each district gets 10 crore rupees annually to fund these collaborations.

The state allocated 851.46 crore rupees for higher education this year, an 8.67% increase from last year. That money funds everything from university operations to digital management systems to science outreach programs.

Kerala's colleges already rank among India's best performers nationally. Free tuition means more talented students can join them, regardless of their parents' income. It means young women in conservative families have one less obstacle. It means first-generation college students can write their own stories.

The policy transforms education from a luxury into a guarantee, the way it should be.