NCERT portal for online books launched

New Delhi: Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha launched the NCERT web portal on Wednesday for the supply of textbooks to schools and individuals here in the national capital.

Schools can order these books by entering their Board`s affiliation number and other details till September 8 for the session 2018-19, a statement from the ministry said. 

The web service would soon be launched for individuals where they will be able to purchase books online. 

"At the time of placing the orders, the schools are not required to make the payment; the payment can be made just before the supply. 

"The schools will also have the option of directly procuring textbooks either from their nearest NCERT vendors or from the Regional Production-cum-Distribution Centres (RPDCs) of the NCERT located at Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Guwahati and Bengaluru," the statement read. 

There are about 80 vendors to supply the books to schools. Individuals will receive the books through normal post. 

"Our aim with the web service is that no child should be compelled to buy more expensive books for want of NCERT books," said Anil Swarup, Secretary, School Education & Literacy (HRD), at the book launch. 

He said that new books will be updated with recent developments in the country, and complete with corrections. 

The NCERT textbooks can also be downloaded, free of cost, from the NCERT`s website www.ncert.nic.in and users can access the digital version by downloading the `epathshala` mobile application.