Overview
- The state government on Thursday refused to withdraw newly issued Class I–VIII textbooks that reviewers found to contain roughly 1,678 to 1,760 errors and instead told teachers to guide students in correcting mistakes in class.
- A three‑member high‑level committee led by Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh was appointed to investigate printing and editorial lapses and report back within seven days to identify who is responsible.
- Reported errors are wide ranging and concrete, including calling Isaac Newton a 'great pilot', using Karnataka’s Vidhan Soudha image for the Odisha Assembly, and misidentifying Hampi’s stone chariot as the Konark Sun Temple.
- SCERT officials say the books were released as an 'Experimental Edition' prepared quickly after the new NCERT syllabus, and that compressed editorial and proofreading windows under NEP 2020 caused quality lapses.
- Political pressure is high: opposition parties, parent groups and teacher associations are demanding faster corrective action and apologies, while the government plans corrected editions only for the 2027–28 academic session.