NCERT cracks down on textbook piracy, seizes 32,000 fake books in major Delhi–NCR raid

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), in coordination with the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, has assisted in a major crackdown on textbook piracy, leading to the seizure of around 32,000 pirated NCERT textbooks from an illegal printing facility in Ghaziabad, as per the official release issued by NCERT.

The raid, carried out at a printing unit in Village Jawli, Loni, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, exposed a large-scale operation involved in the unauthorised printing of NCERT textbooks across multiple classes and subjects, ahead of their circulation in the market.

Intelligence-led operation in Ghaziabad

According to the official NCERT release, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police conducted the raid after developing inputs during an earlier investigation into copyright violations related to NCERT publications. During the operation, law enforcement officials recovered thousands of illegally printed textbooks along with two printing machines, aluminium printing plates, paper rolls and printing ink, pointing to industrial-scale counterfeit production.

Officials said the presence of heavy printing equipment indicated that the facility was capable of producing and distributing textbooks in bulk, raising concerns about the extent of piracy in the education supply chain.

Case linked to earlier FIR

The action was initiated on the basis of intelligence gathered during an earlier case registered by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police vide FIR No. 336/2025 dated November 11, 2025, as per the official NCERT release. The case was filed under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Copyright Act, 1957.

Police sources said further investigation is underway to trace the network involved in the printing, distribution and sale of pirated textbooks, including possible links to wholesalers and retailers operating in the Delhi–NCR region.

NCERT publication officials assist police

As stated in the official release issued by NCERT, officials from the council’s Publication Division were present during the raid and seizure proceedings. They provided technical assistance to the Delhi Police in identifying and verifying the pirated textbooks, examining printing quality, content accuracy and reproduction patterns to establish copyright infringement.

NCERT officials have increasingly been working with law enforcement agencies to curb the circulation of counterfeit educational material, particularly during peak demand periods.

Piracy harms students and education system

NCERT, in its official statement, reiterated that unauthorised printing, distribution or sale of its textbooks is a punishable offence under law. The council warned that pirated textbooks often contain poor-quality printing, missing pages and incorrect or outdated content, which can adversely affect students’ learning outcomes.

“Such activities not only violate copyright but also harm students and the education system by circulating substandard and incorrect content,” the release said.

Advisory to parents and students

NCERT has urged students, parents and schools to purchase textbooks only from authorised sources and official distribution channels. As per the official release, members of the public have also been encouraged to report suspected cases of textbook piracy to NCERT or local authorities.

The seizure underscores NCERT’s renewed enforcement push against textbook piracy and signals stricter action against those involved in the illegal reproduction of academic material.
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