Adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards piracy of NCERT textbooks, a cognizable offence under Copyright Act, 1957, NCERT in last 14 months, along with UP Police, succeeded in seizing 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.
NCERT carrying out textbook preparation, teacher training and curriculum development has so far published over 220 crore textbooks since their establishment in 1963. Off late the education major, having taken cognizance of largescale piracy of its textbooks across the country had pulled up its socks to initiate measures against the fast growing illegal trade.
Raid on a warehouse in Muzaffarnagar led to seizure of 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.
A printing press in Haryana was also raided and a larger number of printing plates were seized.
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 caused 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 initiated several steps including 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 besides 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.
