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As Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) received reports and complaints from parents that they were pressurized by schools to buy an excessive number of textbooks published by others, it has instructed the affiliated schools to use only NCERT books for all classes. Calling prescription of too many books and coercing parents and children to buy the same as unhealthy, the board reiterated that schools needn't look beyond NCERT books as the material forms the base for not only board exams but competitive exams like JEE as well.

Currently, the mechanism is such that while schools need to use only NCERT books for Classes 9 to 12, other publications could be used for Classes up to 8. K Srinivasan, regional officer-CBSE, Chennai said that they are  recommending more schools to start using NCERT books for lower classes as well and also added that it is only an advisory and not a hard and fast rule. Schools, on their part said they had reasons to opt for other publications for lower classes.

Ajit Prasad Jain, senior principal of Bhavan's Rajaji Vidyashram said with the nearest National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) godown/sale counter being based in Bengaluru, there is nearly a wait of six months to procure books and it is convenient to buy other publications that don't stay away from the prescribed CBSE syllabus.

Chitra, a teacher with Vidya Mandir, said while NCERT books do provide a solid foundation of the syllabus, going for private publication books helps them cover more modules. She added that only one book in each subject is prescribed such that there isn't much pressure on parents as far as expenses are concerned. Schools ensure that the books handpicked not only cover the NCERT syllabus, but also helps them to walk the extra mile in helping children develop a thorough knowledge of subjects with more modules or explanations as the case maybe.