Question : NCERT Books

(a) the criteria fixed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training(NCERT) to distribute its books after publication to different parts of thecountry;
(b) the reasons for non-availability of NCERT books to various classes every year despite adequate arrangements made by the Government ;
(c) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that few persons have illegally printed NCERT books worth Rs.35 crore;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken against such culprits; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to curtail illegal printing of NCERT books and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF EDUCATION
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)

(a) TheNational Council of Educational Research and Training(NCERT) has informed that they have empanelled 992 dedicated book-sellers as vendors across the country for the distribution of NCERT publications.These vendors are selected by NCERT by inviting applications through open advertisements released in various newspapers across the country. NCERT textbooks are also distributed through its Sales Counters located at NCERT Headquarter, New Delhi, its Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs) at Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru and Shillongand its regional centers at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata and Guwahati. Besides, online orders for procurement of NCERT textbooks can also be placed through NCERT web portal. The online ordered textbooks are supplied at the doorstep of the customerwith the help of Indian Postal Services.

(b) NCERT has not received any complaint regarding shortage of its textbooks during the academic session 2020-21. After assessment of demand, 6.56 crore copies of the textbooks were made available for distribution in the market during the academic session 2020-21.Besides, all the NCERT textbooks are also made available for free download through its digital platform such as E-Pathshala, E-Pub and in PDF form to facilitate the students across the country.

(c)& (d) It has come to the notice of the Government that in a police raid conducted by Uttar Pradesh Police, pirated NCERT books were found to be stored at a godownin Meerut and being illegally printed at Gajraula. NCERT immediately constituted a four members team, which visited Meerut and Gajraula along with the UP police team. The printing press at Gajraula, Uttar Pradesh has been sealed by the police. An FIR in the matter has been registered at Partapur Police Station, Meerut.
(e) NCERT has been taking all precautions to curb the piracy of its textbooks.NCERT has opted to print all its textbooks on NCERT watermark paper in order to curtail the illegal printing. Further, NCERT books are printed only by the empanelled printing presses under strict vigilance. Besides, NCERT conducts surprise visit to the markets for checking the sale of pirated books in order to curb the piracy.

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