SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) incurred an expenditure of Rs 39.45 crore on printing textbooks for the 2025–26 academic session up to March, while generating revenue of Rs 26.72 crore, the Government informed the Legislative Assembly.
Replying to a question tabled by MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania regarding NCERT textbooks, the Government stated that JKBOSE prints textbooks from Class 1st to 8th, including Science, Mathematics, Hindi, English, Dogri and Gojri, as mandated by law. The books are supplied free of cost to Government schools under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, while copies meant for private schools are distributed through registered booksellers on market supply basis.
Providing year-wise figures, the Government said JKBOSE spent Rs 38.19 crore in 2023–24 and generated Rs 26.38 crore in revenue. In 2024–25, the expenditure rose to Rs 39.06 crore, while revenue stood at Rs 27.61 crore. For 2025–26 up to March, expenditure reached Rs 39.45 crore and revenue Rs 26.72 crore.
The mismatch between expenditure and revenue was attributed to the difference between actual printing costs and the funds released under Samagra Shiksha. The scheme provides Rs 250 per bookset comprising four textbooks for Classes 1st to 5th and Rs 400 per bookset comprising seven textbooks for Classes 6th to 8th. However, JKBOSE incurs an average cost of about Rs 450 per bookset for Classes 1st to 5th and Rs 750 per bookset for Classes 6th to 8th. The additional burden towards paper, printing and transportation results in an annual liability of nearly Rs 12 crore for the Board.
The Government clarified that printing is not carried out through an open tender process. Instead, JKBOSE invites Expression of Interest from printers empanelled with the National Council of Educational Research and Training in accordance with JKBOSE regulations of 1992. Multiple printers are engaged to ensure adherence to timelines and cost efficiency.
The Board also prints selective textbooks for Classes 9th to 12th, which are sold through registered booksellers. Distribution of free textbooks across districts is undertaken through JKBOSE offices in Jammu and Srinagar divisions, ensuring availability ahead of the academic session.
On compliance by private schools, the Government said affiliated institutions are legally bound to adopt JKBOSE textbooks. However, some schools had prescribed books from private publishers, imposing additional financial burden on parents. A stricter monitoring mechanism has since been put in place. JKBOSE issued dis-affiliation notices to 12 non-compliant schools and imposed a penalty of Rs 4 lakh collectively. The erring schools subsequently adopted JKBOSE textbooks.
Inspection squads have been constituted across districts, and meetings were held with private school associations to ensure adherence to prescribed curriculum and prevent monopolistic practices by publishers or sellers, the Government added.
