Amid the circulation of fake textbooks in the market, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has released an official notification
to clear the air around fabricated books, while urging students, their parents, and teachers not to fall prey to such publications. Taking to its X handle, NCERT said that pirated and unauthorised versions of its textbooks are making the rounds in both print and digital media. The council added that a Class 9 Social Science textbook gaining traction on social media and messaging platforms is ‘fake.’ Alerting students, parents, and teachers against the hoax publications, the council said that, in certain cases, fake copies are being circulated even before their official publication and release by NCERT. "It has further been observed that a fake and unofficial copy of the Social Science book of Class 9, Part 1, 'Understanding Society: India & Beyond' is being circulated on social media channels, websites, and messaging groups that claim to offer NCERT textbooks and allied materials and are circulating such spurious and unauthorised content," NCERT said. Clarifying its stance, the council asserted that these channels have ‘no association with or authorisation from NCERT.’ The textbooks, according to the council, are published, printed, and released through official channels, and no textbook is permitted to circulate in any form prior to its official release. "The contents being circulated through such unofficial sources may be inaccurate, incomplete, tampered with, or entirely fabricated, and must not be relied upon by students, teachers, parents, or the general public," it said. Advising stakeholders to procure books only through official sources, NCERT said digital copies of its textbooks are made available free of cost on its official website and the ePathshala portal, besides authorised vendors for printed copies.
Lastly, the council requested concerned persons not to subscribe to, share, or rely on unofficial or unverified social media channels, links, or applications claiming to offer NCERT books or pre-release materials.
NCERT stated that unauthorised printing, reproduction, distribution, and digital circulation of its copyrighted material are illegal and punishable under the Copyright Act, 1957, and other applicable laws.
Furthermore, the council is taking stringent measures, including legal action, against the miscreants
