# 1,741 errors found in Odisha textbooks costing Rs 175 crore 2026-09-25T14:46:40+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond told the Assembly that 1,741 errors have been detected in new textbooks for Classes 1 to 8, which cost Rs 175 crore to print and supply. The errors include 1,075 grammatical, typographical and spelling mistakes and five factual and conceptual errors, Times Now reports. The Class 8 Science book had 294 errors, the Class 7 Urdu book had 121, and the Class 8 Sanskrit book had 114. Gond said 10 people have been penalised: three deputy directors, including a former director, have been suspended, and disciplinary proceedings started against six others. Odishatv.in reports that earlier, School and Mass Education Department Secretary N Tirumala Naik had disputed claims of 1,678 errors. The government says it has introduced fact-checking by subject and language experts to prevent future mistakes. Error-free books are being printed and distributed to students. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Both sources report the same headline number and cost, but Odishatv.in frames the story as a routine ministerial reply alongside data on declining dropout rates, suggesting governance as usual. Times Now leads with the disputed error count, recounts past protests by student groups, and includes the department secretary's earlier dismissal of the high figure, giving the story a contentious arc. The balanced reading: the government acknowledges the errors and has taken action, but the scale of the problem and the initial denial undermine its credibility. The Assembly's acceptance of the reply provides closure, but student groups are watching whether the suspensions lead to systemic reform. ## Coverage - odishatv.in (neutral report) Reports minister's reply factually, pairs with dropout data as routine business - timesnownews.com (government critical) Leads with disputed error count and past protests, highlighting government's denial Tags: Nityananda Gond, Odisha, School and Mass Education Department Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/1741-errors-found-in-odisha-textbooks-rs-175-crore-spent/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/1741-errors-found-in-odisha-textbooks-rs-175-crore-spent/#story-in-brief