Ex-SCERT chief arrested over errors in Odisha school textbooks
Odisha Crime Branch arrested the former SCERT chief over alleged irregularities in school textbook preparation for Classes 1 to 8.
- Odisha Crime Branch arrested the former director of SCERT, Odisha, in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy in textbook preparation.
- SCERT, Odisha had overall supervision, coordination, monitoring and approval responsibility in the textbook development process mentioned in the case.
- The textbook development process mentioned in the case operated under the National Education Policy, 2020 framework.
Odisha Crime Branch arrested the former director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) over alleged irregularities in the preparation of school textbooks for Classes 1 to 8. The case matters for UPSC because it combines education governance, institutional accountability and standards of public administration.
What happened
Investigators said the former SCERT chief had overall supervision, coordination, monitoring and approval responsibilities in the textbook development process under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The agency alleged that he approved and forwarded manuscripts for printing without ensuring that factual, scientific, geographical and pictorial content was properly verified.
UPSC may examine how curriculum bodies, state education institutions and approval chains ensure accuracy in school textbooks, and how lapses affect learning outcomes and public trust. The issue can also be linked to administrative responsibility, negligence standards and reforms in education governance.
