Action taken against criminals involved in manufacture, distribution and sale of pirated NCERT textbooks
Press Note by Education Ministry : Adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards piracy of NCERT textbooks, which is a cognizable offence under the Copyright Act, 1957, NCERT in the last 14 months, along with the respective Police authorities, has seized more than 5 lakh copies of pirated NCERT textbooks, huge quantity of printing paper and machinery worth more than Rs. 20 Crore, while registering a record 29 FIRs against printers, warehouse owners, and retailers of pirated NCERT textbooks.
Continuing its drive against such criminals, NCERT, along with the UP Police, conducted a raid on a warehouse in Muzaffarnagar and seized over 1.5 lakh pirated NCERT textbooks worth over Rs. 2 Crore, one truck, and two cars loaded with pirated textbooks, as well as a large number of printing plates. Eight accused were arrested on the spot.
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In continuation of this action, a printing press in Samalkha (Haryana) was also raided and a large number of printing plates being used for printing pirated NCERT textbooks, copies of pirated textbooks, and machinery were seized. Further investigation is underway to identify the masterminds behind the racket of manufacturing, distributing, and selling pirated NCERT textbooks.
To curb the menace of pirated textbooks, which not only cause revenue loss to NCERT and the Government but are also a health hazard for school children on account of the poor paper and ink quality, NCERT has initiated the following steps:
- Significant improvement in quality of paper and printing of NCERT textbooks;
- Ensuring timely printing of NCERT textbooks and their availability in adequate numbers in the market;
- Proactive action against printers, distributors and retailers of pirated textbooks;
- Action against paper mill based in Kashipur, manufacturing illegal NCERT watermarked paper;
- Making NCERT textbooks available on major e-commerce platforms at MRP without delivery charges; and
Introduction of a technology-based anti-piracy solution developed by IIT Kanpur in NCERT textbooks. This solution has been piloted on 10 lakh copies of one title and shall be scaled up to all titles in the next academic year, replacing the old watermarked paper, which has become redundant and is easily copied by pirates.
NCERT shall continue its action against criminals indulging in the printing, distribution and sale of pirated NCERT textbooks. Students, parents and teachers are requested to kindly bring to the notice of NCERT any instance of the sale of pirated NCERT textbooks at pd.ncert[at]nic[dot]in.
