Odisha Objects to Odia Syllabus in Devanagari Script

The Odisha government has formally protested after discovering that the Odia language syllabus for Jharkhand's Teacher Eligibility Test was published in Devanagari script rather than the native Odia script. In a letter described as "highly regretful," the state's Language, Literature and Culture Department demanded immediate correction from the Jharkhand Academic Council.

Officials emphasized that Odia is one of 22 Scheduled Languages under the Constitution's Eighth Schedule and holds Classical Language status, making the use of its distinct script essential for proper linguistic preservation and evaluation. The complaint was triggered by Odia-speaking community members in Jharkhand who expressed concerns about candidate disadvantage.

Beyond script correction, stakeholders have requested inclusion of appropriate Odia prose and poetry in the syllabus and availability of model question papers in Odia script. The controversy underscores broader concerns about linguistic inclusivity and accuracy in India's multilingual education system, particularly regarding equitable treatment of all scheduled languages in competitive examinations.