Question : Free Textbooks under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

(a) the number of students who have been provided text books free of cost under Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) during the last three years;
(b) the details of the funds allocated by the Union Government to State Governments to
provide free text books to the students under the SSA during the last three years,
State/UT and year-wise;
(c) whether any criteria has been formulated for the distribution of text books and if so,
the details thereof along with the agency through which books are being procured;
(d) whether the text books are also being procured from the private publishers and if so,
the details thereof;
(e) whether the text books provided by the private publishers fulfill the fixed criteria; and
(f) if so, whether the Government has conducted any survey in this regard and if so, the
details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) & (b): The details of the number of students who have been provided text books and the
funds allocated under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) during the last three years are at
Annexure. The Central Government has launched an Integrated scheme, for school
education named as Samagra Shiksha w.e.f 2018-19, which subsumes the three erstwhile
Centrally Sponsored schemes of school education i.e Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA),
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Centrally Sponsored Scheme on
Teacher Education (CSSTE). Under the erstwhile scheme of SSA, textbooks were provided
to all children in Government/Local Body and Government aided schools including
Madarsas desirous of introducing the State curriculum, within an upper ceiling of Rs150/-
per child at primary level and Rs 250/- per child at upper primary level. Under the Integrated
scheme of Samagra Shiksha, the ceiling has been increased to Rs.250/- per child at primary
level and Rs.400/- at upper primary level.
(c) to (e): Section 29 (1) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education(RTE)
Act, 2009, provides that the curriculum and evaluation procedure for elementary education
shall be laid down by an academic authority notified by the appropriate Government. As
education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, the majority of schools come under
the purview of the State Governments and UT Administrations. Hence, development and
distribution of textbooks to children at elementary level is under the jurisdiction of the
Academic authorities like Textbook Boards, SCERTs etc, notified by the respective
States/UTs.
Further, the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005 sets the guidelines and
direction for the development of syllabi and textbooks at all the school stages. In compliance
of NCF 2005, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has
prepared model syllabi and textual material in various subjects. The States adopt/adapt the
model syllabi and text books of NCERT or develop their own syllabi, textbooks and other
teaching learning materials based on NCF.
(f): No survey has been conducted in this context. However, States and UTs have been
suggested to ensure textbooks production, printing and distribution as per norms and as per
the provisions/guidelines made by the academic authority of respective States/UTs.
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