New Delhi, April 28: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday reviewed the availability, printing, and distribution of textbooks published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for the ongoing academic session. Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Sanjay Kumar, along with the senior officials from the Ministry of Education and NCERT were present during the meeting.
Pradhan reviewed the preparation of the upcoming NCERT Textbooks. The Minister also assessed stock positions across States and Union Territories and examined coordination with state authorities and distribution agencies to ensure the timely delivery of books, particularly to students in rural areas.
Emphasising that no student should face inconvenience due to delays, Pradhan directed officials to strengthen supply chains, augment printing capacity where necessary, and closely monitor last-mile delivery.
He also highlighted the availability of digital textbooks through e-Pathshala as an interim measure to support uninterrupted learning until physical copies reach all students.
Notably, the NCERT on April 25 announced through a post on ‘X’ that Class 9 textbooks are now available online, offering students access to digital versions through its official website. The move comes at a time when several regions across India are reporting shortages of newly introduced textbooks in the open market.
While the online release is expected to ease access for some, concerns remain for those in remote areas where internet connectivity continues to be inconsistent.
