The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Union Ministry of Education, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and all states and union territories (UTs) over allegations that private schools are prescribing expensive books from private publishers.
In response to a complaint dated April 9, the National Human Rights Commission said on April 15 that the case raises concerns about the “financial burden” on parents and the potential denial of equitable access to education.
NHRC member Priyank Kanungo directed UT chief secretaries and directors to submit responses within 30 days.
The National Human Rights Commission said the allegations “prima facie” indicate violations of the law on the right of children to free and compulsory education. She cited Section 29 of the Act and said that designated academic authorities, such as the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), would formulate curricula and textbooks.
The National Human Rights Commission said that prescribing private books could impose an “additional financial burden” and undermine the law’s mandate regarding free and equitable primary education. Citing the equity objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, she said such practices may conflict with its focus on inclusive and affordable education.
The National Human Rights Commission said that prescribing multiple private publications may also violate a national policy by increasing the weight of the school bag and posing health risks to children, potentially creating a “two-tier education system” driven by commercial interests.
The NHRC invoked its powers under the Human Rights Protection Act and said it could “request information or submit reports” from governments and examine allegations of rights violations, including those affecting children’s right to education. It asked states to indicate whether directives have been issued to ensure compliance with RTE standards and to conduct school-level audits of prescribed textbooks within 30 days, if this has not already been done. The National Human Rights Commission requested enrollment data and details of textbooks used in the 2025-2026 academic year.
The National Human Rights Commission asked the Ministry of Education to clarify the role of bodies such as the National Emergency Response Center in prescribing textbooks, and whether examination boards have any powers at the primary level within 15 days.
On April 15, HT had reported concerns over rising cost of textbooks in CBSE affiliated private schools for the 2026-27 academic session. Parents claimed that they have to buy expensive books from selected vendors, often revised annually, which greatly increases their financial burden.
This case highlights a regulatory gray area. CBSE mandates NCERT textbooks for classes 9 to 12 but “strongly” advises adopting them only for classes 1 to 8. A circular issued in August 2024 allowed schools to use supplementary materials based on their requirements. CBSE officials did not respond to queries.
Private schools are allowed to use textbooks from different publishers up to Class VIII “to avoid standardization and encourage creativity and innovation,” said educationist M K Sridhar, who drafted the New Economic Policy 2020.
The CBSE ecosystem is dominated by private institutions, accounting for nearly three-quarters of affiliated schools, with 23,090 out of 30,415 falling into this category, according to official data.
The Central Board of Secondary Education has not issued any new directions on the use of textbooks since August 2024. States, including Delhi, Bihar, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, have directed schools not to force parents to buy books or uniforms from specified vendors. Uttar Pradesh has initiated inspections and organized book fairs to curb the sale of expensive textbooks.
The price gap between NCERT and private publishers’ books is stark. A complete NCERT package for classes 1 to 8 usually costs between $200 and $700, depending on the classroom, while publishers’ own packages, which often include workbooks, additional readers and stationery, range from $3000 LBP $10,000.
