Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has described the incident of more than 1,600 errors in school textbooks for Classes I to VIII as a "possible conspiracy" to defame the state government. He also said that faulty textbooks would be withdrawn and replaced with corrected editions.

Speaking to The Times of India during the Times Health Icons Odisha 2026 event, Majhi said the government has taken the issue seriously and ordered a thorough investigation into the lapses.

"Though errors did occur earlier, the scale of mistakes this time is unusually large. The entire process of the textbook preparation and printing needs to be scrutinised. I suspect it is a larger conspiracy to defame the government," the Chief Minister said.

Majhi said a committee has been constituted to investigate the matter and identify those responsible. While there was an initial proposal to give the panel 15 days to submit its report, he said he reduced the deadline to seven days to ensure a speedy inquiry.

Those found involved will face strict action, the CM added.

Majhi also announced that all textbooks containing errors and already distributed to students would be withdrawn. Fresh copies with corrections will be printed and supplied to schools.

He further warned that if the probe establishes evidence of a conspiracy, the cost of printing the revised textbooks would be recovered from those found responsible.