In a significant move to combat the circulation of duplicate textbooks sold at inflated prices, the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UP Board) has, for the first time, decided to make board-prescribed books available through an online portal with home delivery facilities. The initiative, introduced for the academic session 2026-27, aims to ensure easy access to genuine textbooks for students across the state, particularly those in remote areas. Officials believe this step will help curb the rampant piracy of textbooks, which has become a major concern in recent years.
New System for Classes 9 and 10
Under the new arrangement, students of Classes 9 and 10 studying in government, aided, and recognised private schools will be able to purchase authorised textbooks online without paying any additional delivery charges. The board has launched a student-friendly portal called the Pioneer Books Portal, through which students can directly access and order complete book sets class-wise. Initially, complete book sets for Classes 9 and 10 will be made available online, while other classes may be included gradually.
Integration with Amazon India
According to Secretary of the UP Board, Bhagwati Singh, the online portal has been integrated with Amazon India for smooth home delivery of books. This partnership ensures that students receive their textbooks at their doorstep without any extra cost. The board has prescribed 70 NCERT textbooks covering 36 subjects for high school and intermediate classes. Subjects include English, Science, Mathematics, Social Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Business Studies, Accountancy, Psychology, and Home Science. Additionally, 12 textbooks for Hindi, Sanskrit, and Urdu subjects for Classes 9 to 12 are also made available by the board.
Authorised Publishers
For printing and distribution, the board has authorised three publishers: Pioneer Printers and Publishers, Agra; Pitambara Books Private Limited, Jhansi; and Singhal Agencies, Lucknow. These books have already been made available through wholesale and retail sellers across districts since February this year. The Secretary stated, "The initiative has been launched to ensure easy availability of genuine textbooks to students and to simplify the process of purchasing books from home. The move is expected to bring greater transparency in textbook distribution and provide relief to students and parents who often struggle to identify original board-approved books in the market."
This new system is expected to significantly reduce the distribution of pirated and duplicate textbooks, which has been a persistent issue. By providing a direct and reliable source, the UP Board aims to protect students from exploitation and ensure they have access to quality educational materials.
