NCERT Issues Warning Against Copyright Infringement in Educational Materials

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), a prominent advisory body to the Government of India in the realm of school education, has issued a robust cautionary statement regarding copyright infringement of its educational materials. NCERT, entrusted with the development and dissemination of textbooks across all stages of school education, serves as the authorized repository for educational teaching and learning resources in the country.

NCERT has recently become aware of certain unscrupulous publishers who are illicitly printing NCERT school textbooks, available on the NCERT website, under their own name without obtaining proper authorization from NCERT.

According to the council, any individual or entity found publishing NCERT textbooks, whether in full or in part, for commercial purposes or using NCERT textbook content in their publications without obtaining copyright permission from NCERT will face legal repercussions as per the provisions of the Copyright Act 1957.

The public is urged to refrain from purchasing or using such unauthorized textbooks or workbooks, as their content may not only be factually incorrect but also contradict the fundamental principles outlined in the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) of 2023. NCERT encourages individuals who come across pirated textbooks or workbooks to promptly report them to the council via email at [email protected].

For any publisher intending to include the name of NCERT in their publications, the council advises submitting a proposal to the Publication Division NCERT, located at Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi-16, or via email at [email protected].

This stern warning from NCERT underscores the importance of upholding intellectual property rights and ensuring the dissemination of accurate and authorized educational materials across the country's school education system.