Parliament Question: Delay in Distribution of Textbooks in Government Schools

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4093 ANSWERED ON –18/08/2025 DELAY IN DISTRIBUTION OF TEXTBOOKS IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS †4093. Shri Harish Chandra Meena:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether there is any delay in distribution of free textbooks to students of Government schools in various States, especially in Tonk and Sawai Madhopur districts of Rajasthan in the current academic session;

(b) if so, the reasons for such delay especially in the context of obligations contained in the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and the funds allocated for distribution of textbooks under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan or other schemes;

(c) whether any review, audit or monitoring have been conducted by the Government to identify the reasons for such delays at the State and district level; and

(d) if so, the major findings and the corrective measures taken in this regard particularly with regard to Tonk and Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): Samagra Shiksha is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for school education in India covering pre-school to class 12. It aims to improve school effectiveness by supporting States/UTs in implementing the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Under Samagra Shiksha all States and UTs submit their proposals for all interventions contained in the scheme through their Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B). The proposals are appraised and approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB) as per the programmatic and financial norms of Samagra Shiksha in the Ministry, in consultation with the respective State/UT government and proportionate funds are allocated. Samagra Shiksha provides for support to States/UTs to ensure compliance of norms and standards for a school as given in the Schedule of RTE Act, 2009.In compliance of the provisions of the RTE Act, to promote equitable access and to improve the learning outcomes among children, there is a provision to provide free textbooks to all children in Government/Local Body and Government Aided schools of all States/UTs at elementary level. All children in these schools are provided with free textbooks based on the latest available UDISE+ enrolment in different States/UTs. The UDISE+ data includes all schools located in both rural and urban areas across the country. Under Samagra Shiksha, financial support is provided for the provision of textbooks to all children in Government/Local Body and Government Aided schools at the primary level and upper primary level @ INR 250/- and INR 400/- per child respectively. For the year 2025-26, a total of 9,09,43,371 textbooks have been approved, with approved funds of Rs 2832.37 Crore.

A total of 57,46,625 textbooks have been approved for the State of Rajasthan including the districts of Tonk and Sawai Madhopur. As shared by the State Govt. of Rajasthan, in the academic session 2025-26, first phase of distribution of free textbooks has been initiated in all the districts of the State. A total of 5,32,666 books have been distributed in Sawai Madhopur district and a total of 4,76,090 books have been distributed in Tonk district. Rajasthan State Textbook Board has distributed free textbooks in the entire State from

20.06.2025 to 07.07.2025 under the first phase. In the second phase books are distributed from 25.07.2025 to 20.08.2025.

Education is a subject in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and most of the schools come under jurisdiction of concerned States and UTs. State and UT Governments are the appropriate Governments under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education

(RTE) Act, 2009, and have the responsibility and mandate for distribution of textbooks in schools in accordance with the norms laid down in the Schedule to the RTE Act, 2009 and as per respective State RTE Rules. The States/UTs are advised to ensure timely distribution of textbooks with real time monitoring so that all children receive textbooks before the start of new academic session. The Department of School Education and Literacy monitors the expenditure of funds through entries made on the PRABANDH portal.

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