Bhubaneswar, 16/1 : In a significant stride towards implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Odisha government has finalized the roadmap to introduce 55 new NCERT textbooks across all schools starting from the academic session 2026–27. The announcement came today following a high-level review meeting on curriculum reform and textbook development chaired by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Bhubaneswar.
Addressing the gathering on Friday, Minister Pradhan emphasized that the new textbooks have been meticulously translated and contextualized to reflect Odisha’s rich culture, heritage, and specific educational requirements. “These reforms go beyond mere textbooks; they represent a collective commitment to the future of our children and the progress of Odisha,” Pradhan stated. He directed District Education Officers (DEOs) to launch awareness campaigns to generate enthusiasm among students and parents regarding the revamped curriculum.
To ensure a seamless transition, the School and Mass Education Department has already trained 1,000 Master Resource Persons across four zones of the state. These experts are tasked with cascading the training to over 1.66 lakh primary teachers under the Mass Education and Tribal Welfare Departments. This massive capacity-building exercise is designed to equip educators with the pedagogical skills required to transact the new curriculum effectively.
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, who was also present, highlighted that the state is introducing textbooks in three new holistic subjects: Arts Education, Physical Education & Wellness, and Vocational Education. These additions aim to foster all-round development among students, moving beyond rote learning.
During the review, Union Minister Pradhan offered four key strategic suggestions to further strengthen the state’s education ecosystem. He advocated for the strict implementation of mother-tongue-based education up to Class V, ensuring that foundational learning is rooted in the child’s home language. Additionally, he called for prioritizing the NIPUN Bharat mission to enhance Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), strengthening the PM Poshan Scheme with a focus on student nutrition, and expanding the ’10 bagless school days’ initiative for students in Classes VI to X.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including N. Tirumala Naik, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department, and representatives from NCERT. The rollout of these 55 textbooks marks Odisha as a frontrunner in adopting the NEP 2020 framework, setting a benchmark for contextualized curriculum implementation in India.
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