What’s Behind the Controversy Over School Textbooks in Odisha? Allegations of Financial Misconduct Surface!

A significant controversy has emerged in Odisha regarding alleged financial irregularities and conflicts of interest in the printing of school textbooks. The Union Ministry of Education has forwarded a complaint to the state government, highlighting serious accusations and urging action. This comes amid revelations of numerous errors in textbooks for Classes I to VIII, raising concerns about the quality of education. With a substantial amount spent on printing, the situation has sparked widespread debate about accountability and transparency in the education sector. Read on to learn more about the details of this unfolding scandal.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 29, 2026, 22:26 IST

Allegations of Irregularities in Odisha's School Textbooks

Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Education at the Union level has sent a complaint to the Odisha state government, raising serious allegations of financial misconduct, conflicts of interest, and attempts to conceal issues related to the printing of school textbooks. This development adds a new layer to the existing debate surrounding errors found in textbooks for students from Classes I to VIII. The Department of School Education and Literacy communicated this in September, referencing a complaint submitted by RTI activist Pradip Pradhan from Bhubaneswar, which was dated August 13.

The correspondence, directed to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department in Odisha, urged the state to act in accordance with relevant regulations and to respond directly to the complainant. The allegations include claims of significant financial irregularities and conflicts of interest involving a Commerce department official currently on deputation, alongside accusations of efforts to cover up these irregularities.

Notably, during an Assembly session on September 25, the state government disclosed that a total of 1,741 errors had been identified in the textbooks for the 2026-27 academic year. Among these, 1,075 were categorized as grammatical, typographical, or spelling mistakes, five were identified as factual or conceptual inaccuracies, and 661 were noted as suggestions for enhancement. The expenditure on the printing and publication of these books amounted to approximately Rs 175 crore.