NCERT web portal launched for the supply of textbooks to schools, individuals

Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday launched the NCERT web portal to make textbooks available to schools and individuals in the national capital.

Schools can order these books by entering their Board's affiliation number and other details till September 8 for the 2018-19 session, a statement from the ministry said.

The web service would soon be launched for individuals where they will be able to purchase books online.

At the time of placing the orders, the schools are not required to make the payment; the payment can be made just before the supply. The schools will also have the option of directly procuring textbooks either from their nearest NCERT vendors or from the regional production-cum-distribution centres (RPDCs) of the NCERT located at Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Guwahati and Bengaluru, the statement read.

There are about 80 vendors who supply NCERT books to schools. Individuals will receive the books through normal post.

Speaking at the portal launch, Anil Swarup, Secretary, School Education & Literacy (HRD), said,

Our aim with the web service is that no child should be compelled to buy more expensive books for want of NCERT books.

He said the new books will be updated with recent developments in the country, and complete with corrections. The NCERT textbooks can also be downloaded, free of cost, from the NCERT's website www.ncert.nic.in and users can access the digital version by downloading the 'epathshala' mobile application. He added,

We want to address the apprehensions regarding the unavailability of NCERT textbooks. The portal, for now, is open to schools to indicate their textbook requirement for next academic year. This will give NCERT a fair idea of the demand and help them prepare six months in advance so that there is no shortfall when the new session begins.

With inputs from IANS

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