NCERT textbooks to cost less from 2025: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced a reduction in NCERT textbook prices for some classes starting in 2025. Updated textbooks for classes 9-12, aligned with the new National Curriculum Framework, will be introduced by the 2026-27 academic session.

In Short

• NCERT textbooks to cost less from next year
• Printing capacity to increase from 5 to 15 crore books
• New curriculum textbooks for classes 9-12 by 2026-27

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks for some classes will cost less from next year, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Tuesday. The Council, which currently prints 5 crore textbooks in a year, is working to augment the capacity to 15 crore from next year, he said.

Dharmendra Pradhan also mentioned that new textbooks based on the updated curriculum for classes 9-12 will be introduced in the 2026-27 academic session.

"In the next academic year, NCERT will publish 15 crore quality and affordable books....currently it publishes nearly 5 crore textbooks. Earlier there had been concerns about demand and supply issues. However, that will be addressed now," Pradhan told reporters.

"Since the volume of printing of books is going to be high, the prices of textbooks for some classes will be reduced. However, the price will not be increased for any class to ensure there is no financial burden on parents," he added.

The education minister stated that the process of updating textbooks in accordance with the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) is underway.

"The process is on and textbooks for classes 9-12 will be ready by the 2026-27 academic session," he said.