Question : NCERT Books

(a) whether the NCERT books have been printed through empanelled private publishers;
(b) if so, the criteria adopted for appointment of publisher of NCERT Books;
(c) whether the Government is providing papers through selected paper mills to these
publishers for printing of NCERT Books;
(d) if so, the details of papers allotted to each publisher for printing of NCERT Books during
each of the last three years along with the expenditure incurred thereon;
(e) whether the Government has received complaints for using poor quality papers for printing
of NCERT Books by the empanelled publishers/printers;
(f) if so, whether the Government has conducted any audit of empanelled publishers for
utilization of allotted papers; and
(g) if so, the outcome thereof?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)

(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) A statement indicating the qualification criteria for empanelment on the panel of National
Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) offset printers is annexed as
Annexure-I.
(c) Yes, Sir.
(d) A statement indicating the details of the paper allotted to publishers for printing of
NCERT Books during the last three years along with the expenditure incurred thereon is annexed
as Annexure-II.
(e) to (g) The paper for printing of NCERT textbooks is centrally procured by NCERT
from the mills and supplied to the empanelled printers as per print order. Every year, the paper is
got tested from the government inspecting agency. In the year 2017-18, a few complaints were
received from individuals regarding poor quality of printing and paper. Therefore, the quality of
paper was got tested from the government labs. On the basis of lab reports, action was taken
against two mills.
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