The Odisha government will introduce 55 new textbooks for students of Classes I to VIII starting from the 2026–27 academic year, as part of its implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting on school education reforms chaired by the Union Education Minister, attended by Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond and senior central and state officials.
The revised textbooks, developed by translating and contextualising NCERT materials, will replace existing books and reflect Odisha’s local culture, heritage, and learning needs while staying aligned with national standards. To support the rollout, the state has trained around 1,000 master resource persons, who will further train over 1.66 lakh primary teachers for effective classroom implementation.
The meeting also highlighted key NEP 2020 priorities, including mother-tongue-based instruction up to Class V, strengthening the PM-Poshan scheme for student nutrition, and implementing 10 bagless school days annually for Classes VI to X. Additionally, three new subjects—art education, physical education and well-being, and vocational education—have been incorporated to promote holistic development.
Officials said the discussions focused on ensuring a smooth transition to the new curriculum and strengthening Odisha’s school education system in line with NEP 2020 objectives.
