Newton is the greatest pilot: Over 1,600 errors found in Odisha school textbooks
The Odisha government has ordered a high-level probe after 1,678 errors were found in new school textbooks for Classes 1 to 8. The lapses ranged from factual inaccuracies and wrong illustrations to scientific mistakes, with Class 8 textbooks accounting for 705 of the identified errors.
Sir Isaac Newton was described as the "Greatest Pilot". A photograph of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly was identified as the Odisha Legislative Assembly. The Hampi temple complex was labelled as the Konark Sun Temple.
These are among 1,678 errors found in newly introduced Odisha school textbooks for Classes 1 to 8, prompting Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to order a high-level probe into the lapses.
The textbooks, prepared for the 2026-27 academic session under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Odisha Curriculum Framework 2025, came under scrutiny after teachers flagged a series of factual, conceptual and printing mistakes soon after the books reached schools.
Majhi has directed officials to identify those responsible and ensure strict action is taken. The textbooks were prepared under the supervision of the Directorate of Teacher Education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
HOW THE ERRORS CAME TO LIGHT
The mistakes range from incorrect facts and misleading illustrations to errors in scientific terminology.
Among the most widely discussed errors was the description of Sir Isaac Newton as the "Greatest Pilot" instead of a scientist.
A photograph of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly building was wrongly identified as the Odisha Legislative Assembly, while the Hampi temple complex in Karnataka was labelled as the Konark Sun Temple.
Other mistakes included placing Odisha's Niyamgiri Hills in Jharkhand, identifying Berhampur as a district instead of a city in Ganjam district, and confusing wheat with paddy.
The science sections contained several conceptual errors. Temperature was labelled as pressure, a food web was confused with a food cycle, and the term "Equinox" was incorrectly replaced with "Equator".
The errors sparked criticism from teachers, many of whom questioned how such mistakes escaped the review process before publication.
CLASS 8 BOOKS HAD THE MOST ERRORS
According to the School and Mass Education Department, Class 8 textbooks accounted for the highest number of mistakes.
Of the 1,678 errors identified across Classes 1 to 8, as many as 705 were found in Class 8 books alone.
Teachers reported the discrepancies soon after the books were distributed, raising concerns over the quality checks carried out before publication.
The department has acknowledged the mistakes and issued a corrigendum to schools. Teachers have been instructed to use the corrections while conducting classes so that students are not affected during the academic session.
CM ORDERS HIGH-LEVEL PROBE
Following a review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan attended by School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Chief Secretary Anu Garg and senior officials, the Chief Minister announced a three-member committee headed by the Development Commissioner.
The panel has been asked to submit its findings within seven days.
Apart from fixing accountability, the government has also ordered a review of the textbook preparation process to strengthen quality-control mechanisms and prevent similar lapses in future editions.
The controversy has renewed questions over the vetting process for school textbooks after more than 1,600 errors — ranging from factual inaccuracies to conceptual mistakes — made their way into books used by students across the state.
Sir Isaac Newton was described as the "Greatest Pilot". A photograph of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly was identified as the Odisha Legislative Assembly. The Hampi temple complex was labelled as the Konark Sun Temple.
These are among 1,678 errors found in newly introduced Odisha school textbooks for Classes 1 to 8, prompting Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to order a high-level probe into the lapses.
The textbooks, prepared for the 2026-27 academic session under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Odisha Curriculum Framework 2025, came under scrutiny after teachers flagged a series of factual, conceptual and printing mistakes soon after the books reached schools.
Majhi has directed officials to identify those responsible and ensure strict action is taken. The textbooks were prepared under the supervision of the Directorate of Teacher Education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
HOW THE ERRORS CAME TO LIGHT
The mistakes range from incorrect facts and misleading illustrations to errors in scientific terminology.
Among the most widely discussed errors was the description of Sir Isaac Newton as the "Greatest Pilot" instead of a scientist.
A photograph of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly building was wrongly identified as the Odisha Legislative Assembly, while the Hampi temple complex in Karnataka was labelled as the Konark Sun Temple.
Other mistakes included placing Odisha's Niyamgiri Hills in Jharkhand, identifying Berhampur as a district instead of a city in Ganjam district, and confusing wheat with paddy.
The science sections contained several conceptual errors. Temperature was labelled as pressure, a food web was confused with a food cycle, and the term "Equinox" was incorrectly replaced with "Equator".
The errors sparked criticism from teachers, many of whom questioned how such mistakes escaped the review process before publication.
CLASS 8 BOOKS HAD THE MOST ERRORS
According to the School and Mass Education Department, Class 8 textbooks accounted for the highest number of mistakes.
Of the 1,678 errors identified across Classes 1 to 8, as many as 705 were found in Class 8 books alone.
Teachers reported the discrepancies soon after the books were distributed, raising concerns over the quality checks carried out before publication.
The department has acknowledged the mistakes and issued a corrigendum to schools. Teachers have been instructed to use the corrections while conducting classes so that students are not affected during the academic session.
CM ORDERS HIGH-LEVEL PROBE
Following a review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan attended by School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Chief Secretary Anu Garg and senior officials, the Chief Minister announced a three-member committee headed by the Development Commissioner.
The panel has been asked to submit its findings within seven days.
Apart from fixing accountability, the government has also ordered a review of the textbook preparation process to strengthen quality-control mechanisms and prevent similar lapses in future editions.
The controversy has renewed questions over the vetting process for school textbooks after more than 1,600 errors — ranging from factual inaccuracies to conceptual mistakes — made their way into books used by students across the state.
