According to officials from the Ministry of Education, NCERT had planned to print nearly 15 crore textbooks for the 2026–27 academic session. However, only around 7 to 8 crore copies have been printed so far, creating a major gap between demand and supply.

A senior ministry official stated that efforts are being made to speed up the printing process and that the remaining books are expected to be available by the end of May. Despite these assurances, the delay has already affected students, as the academic session officially started on April 1.

For now, students are reportedly continuing their studies using older editions of NCERT books until the revised versions reach schools and bookstores.

The issue has also reignited concerns over the growing dependence of some private schools on expensive books published by private publishers. Parents have alleged that several schools are encouraging or pressuring them to purchase costlier private books instead of affordable NCERT textbooks, increasing the financial burden on families.

Adding to the debate, National Human Rights Commission member Priyank Kanoongo alleged that an “education mafia” is attempting to weaken the government’s push for affordable education. In a post shared on X, he said state governments have been directed to ensure that private schools use reasonably priced NCERT and SCERT books in accordance with the Right to Education Act, 2009.

Responding to these concerns, officials said that CBSE has already advised private schools to prioritise the use of NCERT textbooks for students.

With the academic year already underway, students and parents now hope the textbook shortage is resolved quickly so learning is not disrupted further.