NCERT To Use IIT Kanpur's QR Code, Ink To Curb Book Piracy

IIT Kanpur researchers have developed a special protective QR code to stop NCERT book piracy in the market. The specially designed QR code by the IIT team will not be cracked and will help in distinguishing the original NCERT books from the forged ones.

Students and parents can easily identify the original NCERT books by scanning the QR code while purchasing the books.

Reportedly, in the last year, NCERT pirated books, papers, and printing machines of over 15 crores were confiscated from a total of 13 states in 27 inspections. As per the official information given in an ‘Amar Ujala’ report, the pirated books are common and are sold unabated in the market.

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It is impossible to identify the pirated books from the NCERT original books as they look the same. Reportedly, the book syndicate has broken the ‘Water Mark Paper’ used in NCERT books in 2003. Even, the shopkeepers fail to identify the original and pirated copies of the books.

Following the issue of pirated books in the market, NCERT requested the IIT Kanpur special team to develop a technique to prevent piracy.

As per the reports, the QR code has been incorporated in nearly 10 lakh NCERT books of classes 4 to 7 from the 2025-26 academic session.

The QR code is bulging out like ‘Brail Script’ on the NCERT books, and prepared by the ‘Ink’ using a special technique. IIT Kanpur has also got the ink patent.

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The QR code data is secured on the NCERT server. Different books carry different QR codes. The code can be checked using the CHECKO application.