The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced plans to reduce textbook prices starting in 2025. This initiative aims to ease the financial burden on parents and provide quality educational resources to students nationwide.
The decision, led by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, aligns with the government’s efforts to improve the accessibility of education for all. To facilitate the price reduction, NCERT will significantly increase its annual printing capacity from 5 crore to 15 crore textbooks. This expansion is expected to lower production costs without compromising the quality of materials.
Alongside affordability, NCERT is also focused on aligning textbooks with the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF). Updated textbooks for classes 9 to 12, reflecting modern educational priorities, are scheduled to be introduced for the 2026-27 academic session. These updates aim to improve content relevance and ensure students are equipped with contemporary knowledge and skills.
The initiative marks a pivotal move in the government’s strategy to create an inclusive educational environment, particularly benefiting students from economically weaker backgrounds. Lower textbook prices will not only reduce financial strain on families but also ensure more equitable access to standardized learning resources.
The expanded printing capacity will allow NCERT to meet growing demands and maintain uninterrupted supply across schools. This strategic shift reflects a broader commitment to strengthening India’s education infrastructure in alignment with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The announcement has been welcomed by educators, parents, and policymakers as a positive step toward bridging economic disparities in access to education. By making textbooks affordable, the government aims to foster an environment where quality learning is accessible to all students, regardless of their socio-economic status.
NCERT textbooks are set to play an even more vital role in shaping the educational landscape of the country, ensuring affordability and quality go hand in hand. The first phase of reduced-cost textbooks will roll out in 2025, with further updates and improvements expected to follow in subsequent years.
NCERT Textbooks to Become More Affordable by 2025
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