NCERT textbooks to include 7-digit verification code for authenticity

From the 2026–27 academic session, NCERT textbooks prescribed for Classes 9 to 12 will feature a new 7-digit verification code aimed at improving transparency in the textbook supply system. The step is intended to help students, parents and schools distinguish original textbooks from unauthorised or duplicate copies that often circulate in the market.

The verification code will be printed on the cover of each textbook using ultraviolet fluorescent red ink, making it difficult to replicate through conventional printing methods. Education officials believe this measure will make it easier to verify whether a book has been officially approved and distributed through authorised channels.

As part of the plan, 70 NCERT textbooks covering 36 subjects will be made available for students at regulated prices. In addition, 12 textbooks in regional languages such as Hindi, Sanskrit and Urdu will also be provided. These books are meant for use in government, government-aided and self-financed schools, with the aim of ensuring uniform access to core academic material.

The move comes amid ongoing concerns about the sale of counterfeit textbooks and the practice of promoting expensive guidebooks or supplementary materials in place of prescribed texts. Such practices often increase the financial burden on families without clear academic benefits. By introducing a verification system, authorities hope to reduce the influence of unauthorised publishers and sellers.

To ensure compliance, district-level education officials have been instructed to carry out inspections in schools and bookstores. Special monitoring drives are planned at different points during the academic year to check whether only approved textbooks with valid verification codes are being sold and used in classrooms. Institutions or sellers found violating these guidelines may face penalties.

Schools have also been encouraged to organise textbook sale camps in coordination with authorised printers and distributors. These camps are expected to make it easier for students and parents to purchase genuine textbooks at fixed prices, particularly in areas where access to official bookstores is limited.

Officials say the broader objective is to strengthen the textbook distribution system, protect students from inflated costs, and ensure that learning is based on standardised and reliable material. While the effectiveness of the initiative will depend on enforcement and awareness, the verification code system represents a structured attempt to address long-standing issues in the textbook market.