As of April 2026, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has printed and sold only 3 million copies of the new Class 9 textbooks, which is just 20% of its goal of 15 million. This shortfall comes nearly a month after the academic session began on April 1. In response, NCERT is ramping up printing efforts to meet the target by May 31, 2026. The textbooks align with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, covering subjects such as Hindi, English, and science, but the social science textbook is still pending release.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has directed officials to enhance supply chains and monitor distribution closely. As a temporary measure, digital textbooks are available through e-Pathshala to ensure learning continuity. Additionally, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concerns about the high costs of textbooks from private publishers, which can range from ₹3,000 to ₹10,000 ($36 to $120 USD), significantly impacting parents financially. The NHRC has requested clarification from the education ministry regarding the role of NCERT in textbook selection and the mandate of examination boards.