Odisha Student Congress Stages Protest Over Textbook Errors in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar witnessed a massive student protest as the Odisha Student Congress organised the “Student Sankalp Samavesh” at Lower PMG Square, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Nityananda Gond.
Led by PCC President Bhakta Charan Das, the rally drew thousands of students, joined by NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar and newly appointed NSUI Odisha President Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra.
The agitation was triggered by widespread errors in school textbooks for Classes 1–8, with reports citing 1,600–2,000 mistakes ranging from spelling errors and factual inaccuracies to misidentified photos and incorrect maps.
Examples include Isaac Newton being described as a pilot and Niyamgiri Hills shown inaccurately.
Police detained several activists during the protest, but Congress leaders vowed to intensify their agitation until the minister resigns.
They warned of a statewide bandh if their demands are not met, citing Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s earlier resignation as an example of moral accountability.
The issue has sparked widespread debate on social media, with parents and educators expressing concern about the impact of flawed textbooks on children’s education.
