Bhubaneswar, April 11: With the new academic session underway, the issue of delayed textbook distribution in schools remains unresolved. Amid this, a fresh controversy has emerged over a factual error in a Class 5 Social Science textbook published by the School and Mass Education Department.

The textbook, “Ama Bichitra Biswa,” has drawn criticism after it incorrectly identified Berhampur as a district. The error appears on page 4 in the “Do You Know?” section, which also mentions salt production in Humma, referring to it as being located in “Berhampur district.”

The mistake has gone viral on social media after a teacher highlighted it, questioning how such an inaccuracy made its way into a school textbook. The teacher also took a dig at the book’s title, remarking that it lives up to its name by presenting “strange” facts right from the beginning.

The incident has raised concerns over the quality check and review process of school textbooks, even as the department faces ongoing criticism over supply delays.