PSEB Launches ‘Pustak Portal’ to Offer Discounted Textbooks Directly to Students

Punjab School Education Board launches Pustak Portal, allowing students, parents and schools to buy prescribed textbooks online at a 15% discount with collection and home-delivery options.
on Jul 02, 2026

Digital Textbooks Buying System Launched by Punjab Board

Mohali: The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has launched its own portal called Pustak Portal through which students, parents, and schools will be able to buy board-recommended books at a 15 percent reduction in price. This has made PSEB the first education board in India to launch such an official portal for reduced textbook sale.

It has been done keeping in mind the convenience of students as well as transparency in the process of buying books along with making things financially easier for them. Students have the freedom to buy their recommended textbooks from an official platform rather than opting for private bookshops.

Aims to Reduce Cost of School Books for Families

PSEB expects the new initiative to benefit more than 12 lakh students studying in schools affiliated with the board across Punjab. The board estimates that the direct-discount model could help families collectively save around ₹21.5 crore every year.

The availability of textbooks at a fixed 15% discount is expected to address a common concern faced by parents at the beginning of an academic session: the high cost of purchasing multiple textbooks, workbooks and subject-specific learning material. By offering books directly through the portal, PSEB also aims to ensure that students receive books at board-approved prices.

PSEB Chairman Dr Amarpal Singh said that students, parents and schools can place orders for prescribed textbooks through the platform. The portal is expected to make textbook procurement more convenient, particularly for families living in areas where authorised sellers or bookshops may not be easily accessible.

2.25 Crore Books Have Been Published for This Year's Academic Session

In total, for the present academic session, the Punjab State Education Board (PSEB) has printed more than 2.25 crore books through a total of 361 titles. The books have been printed in three languages, which include Punjabi, English and Hindi, catering to all academic needs of the learners.

The massive printing is an indication of efforts by the board to ensure availability of adequate number of books both before and during the academic session. Adequate access to the books is still essential for the learners since the academic sessions are organized according to the prescribed textbooks.

Collection Centre and District Office for Distribution

In order to facilitate the distribution process, PSEB has set up 97 delivery and collection centres in Punjab. Those students or parents who opt for collecting their books from such collection centres will not have to bear any extra delivery charges.

Furthermore, textbooks can also be obtained from PSEB district office at the discounted price as well. Through this combination method of distribution, parents have the option either to order online for delivery or to collect from nearest collection centre.

Partnership With India Post to Facilitate Home Delivery

To cater to the needs of those students and their parents who want books to be sent through home delivery, PSEB has entered into a partnership with India Post under its 'Gyan Post' scheme. This will ensure that textbooks reach the doorstep of students at discounted postal charges.

The board has stated that packages not exceeding five kilograms in weight can be delivered through India Post at rates between ₹20 and ₹100.

A Model for Other Education Boards

The launching of Pustak Portal marks a paradigm change from a manual and less technologically advanced process to a digitally enabled student-centric process for delivering textbooks. By making use of online booking, discount prices, collecting centers, and postal delivery services, PSEB is trying to deliver textbooks more effectively.

Pustak Portal can also serve as an example to other Indian education boards in order to make books affordable, less dependent on intermediaries, and develop a transparent distribution process for academic books.