New Delhi: In a landmark initiative aimed at increasing access to educational resources, Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan presided over the signing of a Letter of Engagement (LoE) between NCERT and Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd today. The collaboration marks the first time NCERT textbooks will be made available on major e-commerce platforms at the printed price, ensuring students across India can easily access original educational materials.
The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) Sanjay Kumar, Joint Secretary (DoSEL) Smt. Prachi Pandey, NCERT Director Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, and Amazon Vice President Shri Saurabh Shrivastava, among others. This initiative aligns with the Government’s goals under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, focusing on inclusivity, affordability, and accessibility in education.
Pradhan lauded the partnership between NCERT and Amazon, calling it a significant step toward making education more accessible to students, particularly in rural and remote areas. He emphasized that the initiative will bolster NEP 2020’s vision of inclusive, affordable education and aid the Government’s broader goal of enhancing the ‘ease of living’ for citizens. “With the increasing digital footprint across the country, this collaboration ensures that students can access NCERT textbooks at printed prices across nearly 20,000 pin codes,” said the Minister.
NCERT, which has been a cornerstone of India’s educational landscape since 1963, has published around 220 crore books and journals to date. Pradhan announced that NCERT plans to triple its book publication to 15 crore books for the upcoming 2025-26 academic session to meet growing demand. He also highlighted that NCERT has been entrusted with the responsibility of developing 21st-century textbooks, incorporating advanced learning tools like interactive e-books and AI-driven innovations such as talking books.
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of DoSEL, underscored the importance of textbooks in shaping the education system, noting that they account for nearly 96% of the total volume of book sales in India. He stressed the need to strengthen the supply chain to address challenges like supply gaps, delayed availability, and regional shortages. “By partnering with Amazon, we are ensuring that students and schools, even in remote areas, have timely access to these critical educational resources,” he said.
NCERT textbooks of all grades will be available on Amazon’s dedicated NCERT storefront, which was launched at the event. Only original NCERT textbooks will be sold on the platform, helping curb the distribution of counterfeit or pirated materials. Amazon will assist NCERT in monitoring unauthorized sellers, ensuring that students receive quality textbooks at the prescribed prices.
In addition to expanding textbook access, the partnership will allow NCERT to gather customer reviews and feedback to enhance the quality of its educational materials. Amazon will also provide anonymized sales and usage data, enabling NCERT to make informed decisions about future print orders, distribution strategies, and selecting new distributors in regions where demand is high.
Pradhan emphasized the need to make learning more engaging for India’s 300 million students during the Amrit Kaal. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of books as India’s “real soft power” and stressed the importance of making textbooks available in all 23 official languages to ensure equitable access to quality education.
“This partnership is not just about selling books—it’s about ensuring that every student, no matter where they are, has access to the resources they need to succeed,” said Pradhan.