NCERT partners with Amazon to enhance access to textbooks across India

The partnership ensures that original NCERT textbooks will be available at printed prices on major e-commerce platforms, facilitating better access for students nationwide.

As an initiative aimed at improving educational accessibility, Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan presided over the signing of a Letter of Engagement (LoE) between the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd. This unprecedented partnership ensures that original NCERT textbooks will be available at printed prices on major e-commerce platforms, facilitating better access for students nationwide.

Strengthening Educational Accessibility

During the signing ceremony, Minister Pradhan emphasized that this collaboration aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which focuses on making education inclusive, accessible, and affordable. He highlighted that with the expanding digital landscape in India, this initiative supports the government’s vision of enhancing the 'ease of living' for citizens.

"NCERT has been shaping India's education landscape since 1963, publishing approximately 220 crore books and journals," Pradhan stated, announcing that these textbooks will be accessible across nearly 20,000 pin codes in the country.

Commitment to Quality Education

Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), reiterated the importance of textbooks, which account for nearly 96% of the total book sales in India. He highlighted the need for an efficient supply chain to ensure these resources are readily available through platforms like Amazon.

The partnership features a dedicated NCERT storefront on Amazon (http://amazon.in/ncert), where textbooks will be sold at their Maximum Retail Price (MRP). This move aims to eliminate the sale of counterfeit textbooks and ensure that students receive only original materials.

A Step Towards Innovation

Pradhan also noted NCERT's responsibility to develop 21st-century textbooks that embrace interactive and AI-driven innovations, such as "talking books." He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing that educational materials will be available in 23 languages, further strengthening India’s soft power.

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In a related educational initiative, NCERT plans to triple its publication efforts, aiming to release 15 crore textbooks for the upcoming academic session (2025-26).

Efficient Delivery and Support for Bulk Orders

The collaboration with Amazon will facilitate the delivery of textbooks even to the most remote areas of India. Through Amazon's extensive delivery network, students and schools can purchase textbooks at prescribed prices, addressing issues of supply gaps and regional shortages.

Additionally, Amazon will assist NCERT in monitoring unauthorized sellers to combat the distribution of pirated or overpriced books. The partnership will also leverage customer feedback to improve the quality of educational materials, with anonymized sales data shared to inform future strategies.

This partnership between NCERT and Amazon marks a significant step toward creating a more transparent and trustworthy educational ecosystem in India. As both entities work together to ensure quality educational resources are accessible to millions of students, the initiative promises to enhance learning experiences and support the academic journey of learners across the nation.

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