NCERT and Amazon collaborate

In the recent update, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the original NCERT textbooks will be available on major e-commerce platforms for instance Amazon at a printed price only on Monday, October 7,2024.

A letter of engagement has been signed between the two, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and Amazon l , Pradhan stated this partnership to be first such tie-up. It is to ensure the access to original NCERT textbooks at the printed price on major e-commerce platforms.
He then added, the NCERT will triple fold the publication of books. Henceforth it will publish 15 crore books for the upcoming session.

Appreciating this collaboration, Pradhan called it a step towards enhancing ease of living and accessibility to education.
He stated books will be then available at maximum rate price (MRP) for nearly 20,000 pin codes nationwide. “The initiative will strengthen National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of making education inclusive, accessible, and affordable,”.
Further Pradhan added, NCERT has been shaping India's education landscape, it has been publishing since 1963, with around 220 crore books and journals.

He highlighted that NCERT is a significant think tank for the country, It has been entrusted with
developing 21st-century textbooks.

Focusing on the importance of making learning joyful for millions of students of Amrit Kaal, he asked the development of e-books that are interactive and AI-driven, featuring innovations like talking books.

While talking about the significance of textbooks in education, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) Sanjay Kumar highlighted the requirement to strengthen the supply chain for these essential resources.

He told the textbooks, which account for nearly 96% of the total volume of book sales in the country, should be made available through e-commerce platforms like Amazon to enhance student accessibility.

And hence the collaboration between NCERT and Amazon . The partnership will focus on making books available at MRP price on e-commerce platforms so it is more accessible and affordable for children across the nation.