Bhubaneswar, Aug 5: The Odisha government on Wednesday dismissed reports alleging errors in the revised school textbooks, stating that the claims have "no factual basis" and clarifying that the textbook revision process is still in progress with inputs from educationists and subject experts.

The clarification came amid fresh reports of discrepancies in the Class I textbook, Jhulana-1, triggering renewed debate over the quality of the revised learning materials.

In a statement posted on its official X handle, the School and Mass Education Department said certain media reports claiming mistakes in the revised textbooks were misleading. The department maintained that the books are currently undergoing revision and have not yet been finalized for distribution.

According to the government, the revision exercise is being carried out after extensive consultations with educationists, language experts and subject specialists to ensure accuracy and quality. The final versions of the textbooks will be made available to students only after the review process is completed.

Meanwhile, reports alleged that the Class I Odia textbook introduces the Odia alphabet in an unconventional sequence. Questions have also been raised over the printing of the state anthem "Bande Utkala Janani", where one line was reportedly printed incorrectly, besides an alleged spelling error in the word "Utkala" in the national anthem featured in the book.

The latest controversy follows criticism over alleged mistakes in other school textbooks in recent weeks. However, the government reiterated that the ongoing revision process is aimed at rectifying all issues before the books are officially released to students.

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