NEW DELHI: The Union ministry of education has ordered a probe into the National Council of Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) decision to blacklist a firm responsible for supplying paper for school textbooks, news agency PTI reported on Friday. The inquiry will examine the circumstances that led to the blacklisting, whether due process was followed, and the potential implications for the printing and distribution of NCERT textbooks used by millions of students across the country.According to PTI, the ministry has sought a detailed examination of NCERT’s decision, with sources saying the probe will look into the basis for blacklisting the supplier and the procedure adopted before the action was taken. The move comes amid concerns that any disruption in paper procurement could affect textbook production, especially during a period of high printing demand.The latest development assumes significance as NCERT has been working to ensure the timely availability of textbooks following the rollout of revised curricula under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The council is responsible for publishing textbooks for CBSE schools and several state boards, making the paper supply chain a critical component of the printing process.NCERT had earlier blacklisted the paper supplier after it was alleged to have supplied paper that did not meet the prescribed quality specifications. The decision was reportedly taken after quality checks flagged deficiencies in the material being used for textbook printing.The blacklisting drew attention because paper is one of the most important raw materials in the large-scale production of NCERT textbooks. Any interruption in its supply has the potential to delay printing schedules and affect the distribution of books before the start of an academic session.The ministry’s decision to step in indicates that it wants an independent review of NCERT’s action and the process followed before the supplier was barred. The inquiry is also expected to assess whether the blacklisting could have wider implications for the textbook supply chain and whether corrective measures are needed to ensure the uninterrupted production and distribution of school textbooks.
