Lok Sabha Question No. 179 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: NCERT Books
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Gautham Sigamani Pon, Dhanush M Kumar, C.N. Annadurai, Ganesan Selvam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 179 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020

## NCERT Books

179. SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON: SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR: SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI: SHRI SELVAM G.:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:-

- (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?

## ANSWER 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 EPathshala, 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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