Curriculum changes and anti-piracy drive boost NCERT sales by 127%
For years, pirated versions of its books, cheaper and often riddled with errors, flooded the market, particularly in states where distribution was weak.But last year, the education ministry and NCERT jointly stepped up efforts to curb the sale of illegal copies.Raids were conducted in multiple cities, printers were booked, and enforcement agencies were tasked with tracking the supply chain of pirated books.'Retailers and distributors became cautious,' said a senior NCERT official. 'With tighter oversight and more awareness among parents and schools, the demand shifted back to original books.'CURRICULUM CHANGES AND NEP ROLLOUT DRIVE DEMAND FOR NEW NCERTAlongside enforcement, another factor has played a key role, curriculum updates.The academic year 2023–24 marked the rollout of new textbooks for Classes 3 and 6, based on the revised National Curriculum Framework (NCF). This led to a nationwide demand for updated NCERT textbooks, especially in CBSE-affiliated schools.According to NCERT data, over 9 crore textbooks were sold last year. The surge, officials believe, is not a one-time jump but part of a broader shift in the textbook supply ecosystem.Private publishers, who earlier cornered a major share of textbook sales in CBSE schools, are now seeing competition from the public publisher. 'There's been a growing preference for NCERT titles, especially after the NEP push,' said a Delhi-based school principal.The council is now preparing to release updated textbooks for more classes under the new curriculum guidelines. Officials say a fresh round of textbooks is being written for Classes 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 11, which will be introduced in the 2024–25 academic year.NCERT has also expanded its digital offerings through ePathshala and other portals, making its content more accessible to students in remote areas.For now, the focus remains on streamlining printing, improving distribution, and ensuring that updated content reaches every student without delay.- Ends
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