Hopes of thousands of aspiring teachers across Odisha were dashed today after the state government exposed a cleverly forged letter that had been widely circulated on social media and picked up by some sections of the print media.
The fake document, bearing the forged Letter No. 10911/F and dated 24 April 2026, falsely claimed that the Finance Department had approved the creation and engagement of 7,234 Sishu Vatika Teacher posts under OSEPA, with a monthly remuneration of ₹26,200 per teacher.
In a strongly worded clarification, the Finance Department has categorically stated that the letter is “completely fake, fabricated and unauthorised.” No proposal for these posts has been approved by the department, and no competent authority has issued any such sanction.“The purported signature, contents, letter number and approval reflected in the circulated document are false and have no official validity,” the government statement read.
The forged letter triggered widespread confusion and excitement among teacher aspirants who had begun sharing screenshots and celebrating what they believed was a major recruitment breakthrough. Within hours, the document had gone viral, creating unrealistic expectations across the state.
Authorities have made it clear that circulating forged government documents is a serious criminal offence. The matter has already been referred to competent authorities for appropriate legal action against those involved in preparing, circulating and disseminating the fake letter.
The government has urged the public, media organisations and all stakeholders to exercise caution and verify every government communication through official channels only — authorised notifications, official websites and competent authorities.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, the statement concluded: “The Government remains committed to transparency and timely dissemination of authentic information.”This incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread in the digital age, especially when it concerns employment opportunities that directly impact the lives of thousands of young people.
The Odisha government has once again appealed to citizens to act responsibly and help stop the spread of such fabricated documents before they create further confusion.
