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 decision was announced by NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani during an event held in the national capital on Monday. This price cut will be effective from the upcoming academic year, bringing relief to students and parents alike.
No Change for Classes 1-8 Textbooks
While the new pricing applies to books for classes 9-12, textbooks for grades 1-8 will remain at Rs 65 per copy. The discounted books for classes 9-12 will be available starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
Efficiency in Printing and Procurement
During the announcement, Dinesh Saklani emphasised the role of increased efficiency in paper procurement and the introduction of new printing technologies.
"This year, NCERT has streamlined its paper procurement process and onboarded printers with the latest machines, allowing us to pass on the savings to students," Saklani said to PTI.
Partnerships with Flipkart and Amazon
In an effort to make textbooks more accessible, NCERT has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Flipkart and Amazon. These platforms will now sell the books, making them available even in rural areas at reduced prices.
Each year, NCERT prints approximately 4-5 crore textbooks across around 300 titles. However, for the next academic year, the council plans to increase this to 15 crore books, ensuring students across the country benefit from affordable educational resources.
This is the first time that the price of textbooks has been reduced significantly, added the director.
