17 New Textbooks got approved, Odisha Leading by Translating and Contextualising 55 NCERT

Bhubaneswar, December 2025: The 4th Core Committee Meeting on Syllabi and Textbook Development, chaired by Dr. N. Thirumala Naik, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, School & Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha, reviewed and approved 17 newly developed textbooks for Grades 5 and 8. All Directors under the S&ME Department and other esteemed committee members were present during the meeting.

For the first time in the country, Odisha has translated and contextualized 55 new NCERT textbooks developed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This milestone follows the preparation of the Odisha School Education Curriculum Framework 2025 by SCERT, which has guided the State’s textbook development efforts. The State Curriculum Framework was formally inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister on Teacher’s Day, 5 September 2025.

To promote the holistic development of students, Odisha has also introduced textbooks in three new subjects—Art Education, Physical Education & Well-being, and Vocational Education—ensuring that each has been contextualized to reflect the State’s needs and culture. All new textbooks will be implemented across schools from the academic year 2026–27.

Odisha has emerged as a leading state in the country by developing the State Curriculum Framework and all new textbooks from Sishu vatika to Class VIII within a very short period. SCERT has already begun the process of familiarizing teachers across the State with the new Curriculum Framework and the academic transaction of the upcoming textbooks, ensuring smooth classroom implementation from 2026–27.

While contextualizing the textbooks, special emphasis was given to incorporating local examples, stories, and references related to Odisha’s history, science, mathematics, literature, and art. This approach aims to engage students more deeply in classroom activities and strengthen their knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions envisioned under NEP 2020.

Rojalin Sahoo
PRO, S&ME