The Education Ministry has confirmed 51 police cases (FIRs) filed across India over the publication and distribution of pirated textbooks copied from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Over 5 lakh counterfeit copies have been seized in the past three years. Jayant Choudhary, Minister of State for Education, presented these figures in Lok Sabha on Monday.
The scale of fake textbook seizures has dramatically increased, surging by 890% in 2025 alone. These illegal activities compromise the quality of educational materials available to students and violate critical copyright protections. Most FIRs have been lodged against bookshops and commercial stalls.
Significant Seizures Across States
Major operations in 2025 led to the largest confiscations of fake NCERT books. Authorities seized 1.96 lakh copies during a raid in Shahdara, Delhi. Another operation in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, resulted in the seizure of 1.33 lakh copies .
Beyond these primary locations, substantial quantities, often tens of thousands of books, were also recovered. These include seizures in Hapur and Loni in Uttar Pradesh, and Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Cases against pirates have consistently increased since 2023.
The Rising Tide of Piracy
Data from the past three years illustrates a clear escalation in the volume of fake NCERT books circulating the market. The annual seizures highlight the pervasive nature of this copyright infringement issue impacting educational resources.
| Year | Number of Fake NCERT Books Seized |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,117 |
| 2024 | 50,180 |
| 2025 | 4,97,066 |
The jump from 4,117 copies seized in 2023 to nearly 5 lakh copies in 2025 represents a more than 120-fold increase in just two years, underscoring the urgent need for stricter enforcement.
Geographic Spread of Cases
Haryana recorded the highest number of FIRs with 19 cases lodged between 2023 and 2025. The Delhi-NCR region followed with seven cases , and Uttar Pradesh registered five cases during the same period.
Other states also reported cases. Bihar saw three FIRs , while Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh each had two cases . West Bengal also reported two cases, but only 50 pirated books were confiscated there. Several other states had one case each.
NCERT’s Efforts Against Piracy
NCERT textbooks are known for their low cost and are available for free download online. Despite this, private printers and unscrupulous entities continue to copy and circulate pirated versions. This directly violates the Copyright Act, 1957 .
NCERT actively addresses this problem through various measures. It conducts regular awareness campaigns and issues public advisories to inform students and parents. The organization also coordinates closely with police authorities nationwide to curb the circulation of fake books. These efforts have led to the apprehension of individuals and the seizure of substantial quantities of illegal textbooks.