Authorities in a Christian-majority state in India's remote north east have confiscated all copies of a primary class textbook that carried pictures of Jesus Christ holding a can of beer and a cigarette.

Ampareen Lyngdoh, education minister of Meghalaya state, said she is "appalled" and condemns the portrayal of Christ in the textbook which is meant for young children.

Ms Lyngdoh said that the government has seized all copies of the textbook from schools and bookshops in Meghalaya.

The controversial textbook was published by a New Delhi-based publisher and was being used by a chain of privately run primary schools in Meghalaya. More than 70 per cent of Meghalaya's 2.32 million population are Christians.