Overview

• NCERT’s Class 4 mathematics textbook inaccurately depicts the Indian rhinoceros with two horns, a feature of African rhinos, sparking criticism from conservationists and educators.
• The textbook claims rhino horns have medicinal value and lists floods as a threat to rhino populations, prompting concerns about misinformation fueling poaching and misinterpretation of natural phenomena.
• The errors appear in the 'Did you know' section of the '1000s Around Us' chapter, which aims to integrate cross-disciplinary topics into math education.
• Assam’s Education Minister, Ranoj Pegu, has directed the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to investigate the inaccuracies and recommend corrective actions.
• Conservationists and public voices are calling for the withdrawal or correction of the textbook to prevent the spread of misinformation to students.