New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training has assisted the Crime Branch of Delhi Police in busting an operation involved in the illegal printing of NCERT textbooks, leading to the seizure of tens of thousands of pirated copies in Uttar Pradesh.

Acting on specific inputs, the Crime Branch conducted a raid at a printing facility in Village Jawli, Loni, in Ghaziabad district. During the operation, around 32,000 pirated NCERT textbooks covering multiple classes and subjects were recovered. Police also seized two printing machines, aluminium printing plates, paper rolls and ink, pointing to large-scale unauthorised production.

The crackdown followed leads generated during an earlier case registered as FIR No. 336/2025 dated 11.11.2025. The case was filed by the Crime Branch under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Copyright Act, 1957.

Officials from NCERT’s Publication Division were present during the raid and seizure, providing technical support to help identify and verify the pirated textbooks. NCERT has reiterated that the unauthorised printing, distribution or sale of its textbooks is a punishable offence under existing laws.

NCERT has also warned that the circulation of pirated books harms students and the wider education system, as such material often contains errors and substandard content. The public has been advised to buy NCERT textbooks only from authorised sellers and to report suspected cases of piracy to NCERT or the local administration.

The enforcement action comes at a time when NCERT itself is grappling with significant staff shortages. According to data placed in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, more than half of the organisation’s sanctioned posts remain vacant.

Out of a total sanctioned strength of 2,844 posts across NCERT headquarters, regional institutes and departments, only 1,219 positions are currently filled. This leaves 1,625 vacancies across Group A, B and C categories.

The information was provided by the Ministry of Education in response to an unstarred question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam, which sought details on vacancies, contractual appointments and permanent recruitment in NCERT over the past five years.

The data also highlights shortages at key units. At the Central Institute of Educational Technology, only 45 of the 116 sanctioned posts are filled, while at the North East Regional Institute of Education, just 26 out of 55 posts are currently occupied.

BI Bureau