Lok Sabha Question No. 4093 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Delay in Distribution of Textbooks in Government Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Harish Chandra Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4093

ANSWERED ON -18/08/2025

## DELAY IN DISTRIBUTION OF TEXTBOOKS IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

†4093. Shri Harish Chandra Meena:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  there  is  any  delay  in  distribution  of  free  textbooks  to  students  of  Government schools in various States, especially in Tonk and Sawai Madhopur districts of Rajasthan in the current academic session;

(b) if so, the reasons for such delay especially in the context of obligations contained in the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and the funds allocated for distribution of textbooks under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan or other schemes;

(c)  whether  any  review,  audit  or  monitoring  have  been  conducted  by  the  Government  to identify the reasons for such delays at the State and district level; and

(d) if so, the major findings and the corrective measures taken in this regard particularly with regard to Tonk and Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d):  Samagra Shiksha is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for school education in India covering  pre-school  to  class  12.  It  aims  to  improve  school  effectiveness  by  supporting States/UTs in implementing the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act,  2009,  and  aligns  with  the  National  Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020.  Under  Samagra Shiksha  all  States  and  UTs  submit  their  proposals  for  all  interventions  contained  in  the scheme through their Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B). The proposals are appraised and approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB) as per the programmatic and financial norms  of  Samagra  Shiksha  in  the  Ministry,  in  consultation  with  the  respective  State/UT government and proportionate funds are allocated. Samagra Shiksha provides for support to States/UTs to ensure compliance of norms and standards for a school as given in the Schedule of RTE Act, 2009.

In compliance of the provisions of the RTE Act, to promote equitable access and to improve the learning outcomes among children, there is a provision to provide free textbooks to all children in Government/Local Body and Government Aided schools of all States/UTs at elementary level. All children in these schools are provided with free textbooks based on the latest  available  UDISE+  enrolment  in  different  States/UTs.  The  UDISE+  data  includes  all schools  located  in  both  rural  and  urban  areas  across  the  country.  Under  Samagra  Shiksha, financial support is provided for the provision of textbooks to all children in Government/Local  Body  and  Government  Aided  schools  at  the  primary  level  and  upper primary level @ INR 250/- and INR 400/- per child respectively. For the year 2025-26, a total of 9,09,43,371 textbooks have been approved, with approved funds of Rs 2832.37 Crore.

A  total  of  57,46,625  textbooks  have  been  approved  for  the  State  of  Rajasthan including  the  districts  of  Tonk  and  Sawai  Madhopur.  As  shared  by  the  State  Govt.  of Rajasthan, in the academic session 2025-26, first phase of distribution of free textbooks has been initiated in all the districts of the State. A total of 5,32,666 books have been distributed in  Sawai  Madhopur  district  and  a  total  of  4,76,090  books  have  been  distributed  in  Tonk district. Rajasthan State Textbook Board has distributed free textbooks in the entire State from 20.06.2025  to  07.07.2025  under  the  first  phase.  In  the  second  phase  books  are  distributed from 25.07.2025 to 20.08.2025.

Education  is  a  subject  in  the  Concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and  most  of  the schools come under jurisdiction of concerned States and UTs. State and UT Governments are the appropriate Governments under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act,  2009,  and  have  the  responsibility  and  mandate  for  distribution  of  textbooks  in schools in accordance with the norms laid down in the Schedule to the RTE Act, 2009 and as per respective State RTE Rules. The States/UTs are advised to ensure timely distribution of textbooks with real time monitoring so that all children receive textbooks before the start of new  academic  session.  The  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  monitors  the expenditure of funds through entries made on the PRABANDH portal.