Part 1 — Government School Textbooks by April 20

The Assurance from Education Minister Ashish Sood

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood confirmed that all government schools in Delhi will receive textbooks by April 20, 2026, addressing growing concern over delays at the start of the new academic session.

Sood told PTI that the supply of books saw a slight delay due to a new tendering process adopted for printing — a process that helps reduce costs by 20 to 30 per cent for the Directorate of Education (DoE) and allows better utilisation of resources.

The good news: distribution has already begun. Textbooks are being printed in improved quality, and distribution has already started for primary classes in MCD schools, with all institutions expected to receive them by April 20.

Why Did the Delay Happen?

The delay was triggered by a new competitive tendering system that the DoE adopted to keep printing costs in check. While this process takes longer upfront, it generates significant savings for the government — a 20–30% cost reduction translates to meaningful savings at the scale of Delhi’s school system, which runs lakhs of textbooks annually.

The trade-off: a delay of a few weeks at the start of the academic session.

Activist and lawyer Ashok Agarwal had also flagged concerns, writing to the Chief Minister that students were yet to receive textbooks even a week after the new academic session began, urging authorities to intervene. The Education Minister’s assurance of the April 20 deadline is a direct response to this pressure.

What If Your School Hasn’t Received Books by April 20?

If your child’s government school has not received textbooks by April 20, here is what to do:

• Contact your school’s head teacher to confirm when books are expected
• Reach out to your District Education Officer (DEO) — contact details are available at edudel.nic.in
• Write to the DoE helpdesk at edudel.nic.in for escalation
• Contact the DoE complaint mechanism if the delay extends significantly beyond April 20

In the interim, students can access NCERT textbooks free of charge at ncert.nic.in — all NCERT textbooks from Class 1 to Class 12 are available for free PDF download on the official website.

Part 2 — Private Schools BANNED from Forcing Vendor Purchases

The DoE Order — What Changed

The Directorate of Education issued a major directive ordering Delhi’s private unaided recognised schools to stop forcing parents and students to purchase books, writing materials, uniforms and accessories from specific vendors.

The order was issued citing provisions under the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973, and the Delhi Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011.

The directive comes in direct response to complaints from parents and organisations that some schools were compelling families to buy educational materials from designated shops — often at significantly higher prices than the open market.

What Were Schools Doing? — The Problem

Complaints had indicated that in some Delhi private schools, students were being compelled to purchase items such as:

• Books and notebooks
• Uniforms (including design-specific items)
• School bags
• Accessories like belts, ties, socks and shoes

from specific vendors or shops tied to the school administration, often at prices much higher than market rates.

This is a form of commercialisation that is explicitly prohibited for private unaided schools, which are required to operate on a “no profit, no loss” basis as charitable institutions.

What Are Schools NOW Required to Do?

Under the new DoE order, Delhi private schools must:

• Provide parents with clear, class-wise book lists — in a transparent manner, with multiple purchasing options in the open market
• Upload detailed booklists on the school website — so parents can compare and buy from any vendor
• Display names, addresses and phone numbers of at least 5 vendors near the school from where books and materials are available
• Use only textbooks prescribed by their affiliated board — CBSE, ICSE or State Board — and not add additional or unnecessary materials
• Keep uniform design and specifications unchanged for at least 3 years — preventing schools from frequently changing uniform styles to force new purchases
• Not object to or refuse materials bought by parents from any other shop, as long as they match the prescribed syllabus and specifications

What Schools Are BANNED from Doing

Under this order, Delhi private schools cannot:

• Force parents to buy books, uniforms, bags or accessories from any specific vendor or organisation
• Prescribe or promote additional study materials beyond the approved curriculum
• Mandate purchases of any item from a school-linked or recommended shop
• Reject materials bought by parents from the open market that conform to specifications
• Change uniform design or specifications more frequently than once every three years

Legal Basis — Schools Face Serious Consequences

The DoE made clear that violations of this order will invite action under:

• Section 24 of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973
• Delhi Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011

The Director of Education’s order was issued by Veditha Reddy, Director (Education). Non-compliance can result in legal action and penalties against the school management.

Complaint Helpline — How to Report Your School

If a Delhi private school is still forcing you to buy from a specific vendor after this order, here is how to report it:

Nodal Officer: Dr. Rajpal Singh, Deputy Director of Education

Helpline: 9818154069

Email: ddeact1@gmail.com

Timing: 9 AM to 6 PM on working days

When filing a complaint, note the school name, class, specific item you were forced to buy, name of the vendor or shop you were directed to, and the approximate price difference from the open market. This will help the DoE take swift action.

Quick Summary for Delhi Parents — What to Know

Delhi School Textbook & Vendor Ban 2026 — FAQs

Q. By when will Delhi government school students receive textbooks?

By April 20, 2026, as confirmed by Education Minister Ashish Sood. Distribution of primary class books in MCD schools has already begun.

Q. Why were government school textbooks delayed?

A new tendering process for printing was adopted to reduce costs by 20–30% for the DoE. This process takes longer upfront but saves significant funds for the school system.

Q. Can I download free textbooks online while waiting?

Yes — all NCERT textbooks (Class 1–12) are freely available for download at ncert.nic.in.

Q. Can my child’s private school still force me to buy from a specific shop?

No — the DoE has explicitly banned this. Private schools cannot mandate purchases from specific vendors for books, uniforms, bags or any other school supplies.

Q. How do I report a private school that is still forcing vendor purchases?

Call DoE nodal officer Dr. Rajpal Singh at 9818154069 or email ddeact1@gmail.com between 9 AM and 6 PM on working days.

Q. Can schools reject books I bought from a different shop?

No — schools cannot object to or refuse materials bought from any shop, as long as the items match the prescribed syllabus and specifications.

Q. How many vendor options must a private school provide?

The school must display the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least 5 vendors near the school where the required items are available.

Q. How frequently can private schools change their uniform design?

Not more than once every 3 years — schools are prohibited from frequently changing uniform designs and specifications.