In a major relief for students and parents, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced a 20% reduction in the prices of textbooks for classes 9 to 12. The price cut will take effect from the 2025 academic year.
Efficiency in Printing and Paper Procurement
The decision was announced by the Director of NCERT Dinesh Prasad Saklani on December 16 during the 'Bhumi Pujan' ceremony for the construction of auditorium at NCERT headquarters in Delhi, where Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister, presided over.
No Change for Grades 1-8 Textbooks
While the price reduction applies to textbooks for grades 9-12, the cost of books for classes 1-8 will remain unchanged at Rs 65 per copy. The discounted textbooks for classes 9-12 will be available starting the upcoming academic year, ensuring affordability for millions of students nationwide.
Enhanced Accessibility Through E-Commerce Partnerships
To make genuine NCERT textbooks more accessible, the council has partnered with leading e-commerce platforms. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NCERT and Flipkart during the event, expanding the distribution network. NCERT has also collaborated with Amazon in recent years, ensuring nationwide availability of its books.
Currently, NCERT prints around 4-5 crore textbooks annually across 300 titles. With the new measures in place, the council aims to increase production to 15 crore books for the next academic year, meeting growing demand and enhancing accessibility for students across the country.
A Historic Step Towards Affordable Education
The move is expected to ease the financial burden on students and parents, making quality education resources more affordable and accessible.
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