HRD ministry to CBSE: stop publishing texts

Concentrate on conducting examinations, awarding certificates and affiliating schools

The HRD ministry has directed CBSE to stop publishing textbooks and concentrate on its main mandate of conducting examinations and awarding certificates to affiliate schools.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is vested with the task of publishing all textbooks, including those required by CBSE-affiliated schools. This was decided at a meeting of CBSE and NCERT officials called by the ministry recently.

“It was decided in the meeting that the CBSE should concentrate on its main mandate of conducting examinations and awarding certificates to affiliate schools. The complete responsibility of publishing textbooks should be handled by the NCERT,” Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, in reply to a written question.

According to Rule 9(X) of the powers and functions of the Central Board of Secondary Education, as stipulated in its manual of rules and regulations, the board has the power to make regulations for prescribing textbooks or other books of study and to arrange for publication of such textbooks.

Though the CBSE had the powers to publish textbooks, it was felt why it should be involved in the process when the NCERT has adequate means and capacity to publish all school textbooks, a ministry official said, justifying the decision.