NCERT Textbook Sales Surge 127% to Rs 526 Crore After Anti-Piracy Crackdown and New Curriculum Rollout

Sales of NCERT textbooks went up by 127% in 2024-25, reaching ₹526 crore compared to ₹232 crore the previous year. This sharp rise followed the launch of new textbooks and a strong crackdown on piracy, according to sources.

Stronger Anti-Piracy Actions Boost Sales

The jump in sales was due to several actions like raids on fake textbook networks, better book quality, and easy availability on online platforms. Sources said NCERT conducted raids at 29 places in the past year. These raids focused on makers and sellers of pirated books and fake watermark paper. Goods and machines worth over ₹20 crore were seized during these operations. A source added, “The growth in sales happened because of combined efforts—raids on fake sellers, online sales through websites, and the release of new textbooks as part of the syllabus changes.”

Better Quality, Lower Prices, and Online Sales Help

NCERT also brought down textbook prices by 20% after saving ₹155 crore in buying paper. They switched to brighter paper—85% brightness in 2024-25 compared to 82% earlier—and used modern printing methods. These upgrades made the books more appealing to buyers. More than 30 lakh books were sold on Amazon and Flipkart over the last eight months, all at the printed price (MRP), sources confirmed.

Tech Tools and Curriculum Changes Drive Growth

To further stop piracy, NCERT tested a special tech system developed by IIT Kanpur. It was used on one million copies of a Grade 6 book. Sources said the system worked well and would now be used on more books. Officials noted that the rise in sales was also helped by the launch of new textbooks under the National Curriculum Framework. These books are based on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and started rolling out in different classes this academic year.