Patna: The Bihar state Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has admitted to the ''mistake'' that was found in the Maths textbook meant for class V students for schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

The Maths textbook meant for class V students for schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan ended up carrying portions from a Geography book meant for class VII. The mistakes were brought to notice when students found phrases like ''duniya gol hai'' and other geographical concepts in their Maths textbook.

Describing it as a binding error, state HRD minister Mr. Brishen Patel said in the assembly that, "the error was not a printing error, but a mistake at the stage of binding over which the ministry has no control."

The error occurred due to the carelessness of the printer concerned, the minister argued.

The State HRD minister, when grilled in the Assembly on the subject of any concrete mechanism to check the contents and quality of school textbooks, replied that the checking of textbooks was primarily the responsibility of the SCERT.