Raipur: Textbook Corporation is committed to providing quality books as per the new education policy – Keeping an eye on every movement of the media world.

Printing of textbooks will be as per NCERT standards.

Raipur News: Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation has clarified that all decisions related to printing of textbooks for the academic session 2026-27 have been taken in accordance with the new National Education Policy, NCERT standards and instructions of the state government and SCERT.

The Corporation clarified that the syllabus of books from classes 1 to 8 is based on NCERT and the agreement between NCERT and SCERT has a clear provision for the use of 80 GSM paper for printing of internal pages. The contract also mentions that 80 GSM text paper and 220 GSM cover paper should be used to maintain the print quality, long-term durability and readability of the textbooks. Therefore, 80 GSM paper is being used for books of classes 1 to 8 and 70 GSM paper for classes 9 and 10. This decision was not taken alone at the corporate level but in compliance with the contractual provisions and academic standards.

Corporation officials also said that as per the new education policy, the number of subjects from classes 1 to 8 has been increased. It is proposed to print books on 144 subjects in the coming session instead of 134 subjects in the previous session. The increase in subjects in class 4 and class 7 has been done on the basis of the decision of the government and SCERT. Due to increase in the number of subjects, there has been a natural increase in the requirement of paper, but this increase has been done only through a planned and approved process.

It was told by the corporation officials that last year about 11,000 metric tons of paper was used for printing about 265 lakh textbooks and approximately the same amount of paper is estimated to be required in the upcoming education session 2026-27. Therefore, the paper’s assessment of abnormal growth is not correct.

Refuting claims that the weight of students’ school bags has increased by 14 per cent, the corporation said the estimate of percentage increase based only on the conversion of paper to GSM is not based on reality. In many classes, the weight of students’ bags is being controlled through digital teaching material, year-wise distribution system and various educational measures. Therefore, the apprehensions regarding significant increase in the weight of the bag are baseless.

Corporation officials said that stringent conditions are in place in the tender process to ensure the quality of textbooks. Clearance certificate issued by the authorized officer of GST Department and proof of supply of minimum 42,000 metric tons of printing paper is compulsorily sought from the tendering paper mills. This ensures that only experienced and competent companies participate in the supply and that high quality books are supplied to the students.

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Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation has clarified that all decisions related to printing of textbooks for the academic session 2026-27 are taken in accordance with the new National Education Policy, NCERT standards and instructions of the state government and SCERT. The corporation said that the curriculum of books from class 1 to 8 is based on NCERT and as per the agreement signed between NCERT, New Delhi and SCERT Raipur on 15 October 2025, there is a clear provision of using 80 GSM paper for inner pages and 220 GSM cover paper for the cover. It is also mentioned in clause 8 of the contract that the production quality, printing, illustration and layout of the textbooks must be as per NCERT standards. The corporation clarified that the process of purchasing and printing paper for the education session 2026-27 is being done only after approval by the executive of the corporation, in which representatives of Finance Department, Tribal Development Department, Public Education, Samagra Shiksha, SCERT and Government Press etc. are included as members.

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The corporation informed that in the education session 2025-26, 9300 metric tons of reel paper was purchased for printing about 2 crore 65 lakh free textbooks and about 1700 metric tons of paper remaining from the previous session was also used. Thus approximately 11000 metric tonnes of paper was actually used in the last academic session. On this basis, the process of purchasing about 11000 metric tons of 70 and 80 GSM paper for the education session 2026-27 is also being done through tender. The corporation also informed that as per the new education policy, the number of subjects from class 1 to 8 has been increased. Instead of earlier 134 subjects, books of 144 subjects will be printed in the academic session 2026-27. The decision to increase subjects in class 4 and class 7 has been taken by the government and SCERT, due to which the need for books and paper has naturally increased.

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The Corporation clarified that it is misleading to attribute the increase in the weight of students’ bags only to the change in GSM of paper, because the weight of the bag mainly depends on the number of subjects, number of pages of books and the structure of the syllabus. The corporation said that all educational decisions related to curriculum and subjects are taken at the SCERT and state government level and Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation discharges the responsibility of printing and distribution of these approved books. The exaggerated claims being made regarding unnecessary increase in paper, weight and expenditure are baseless and do not represent the actual situation. An appeal has been made to parents and teachers not to believe in misleading information but to rely on official facts. Corporation officials said that the interests of the students are paramount and the process of providing quality textbooks is being conducted with complete transparency and as per the new education policy.