Almost all revised NCERT textbooks up to Class 9 released; remaining books to be available in August
By Vishu Adhana, New Delhi, July 8
The National Council of Educational Research and Training has released almost all revised textbooks up to Class 9 under the new curriculum aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, with only Part 2 of the Class 9 Social Science textbook and Mathematics textbook yet to be published.
According to officials at NCERT, these remaining books are expected to be released in August, before they are required for classroom teaching in the second semester.
"As a follow-up to the National Education Policy 2020, NCERT has developed new textbooks in line with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. The new textbooks for Grades 1 to 8 have been developed and are available in both print and digital formats," NCERT said in an advisory.
It added that the new textbooks for Class 9 are under development and will be available for use from the 2026-27 academic session. The draft syllabi for Class 9 have already been uploaded on the NCERT website for feedback.
NCERT further said that the new textbooks for Classes 10 and 11 will be introduced from the 2027-28 academic session, while the existing textbooks for these classes will continue to be used during the 2026-27 academic year.
Speaking to ANI, Sudha Acharya, Principal of ITL Public School, said the rollout of the revised books has been smooth.
"Almost all the books required for the first semester are available. Only the Class 8 Social Science Part 2 and Mathematics books are awaited. These are meant for the second semester and are expected to be available by August, so there should not be any disruption in teaching," she said.
On the implementation of the three-language policy, Acharya said that in Class 6, where students are required to study at least two Indian languages, most CBSE schools offer Hindi and English, with Sanskrit being the most commonly chosen third language. She added that in Classes 9 and 10, French and German continue to be among the most preferred foreign language options for students.
The clarification comes as CBSE recently eased the implementation of the three-language policy by allowing students already studying two foreign languages in Classes 7, 8 and 9 to continue with their existing language combinations till Class 10. The requirement of studying at least two Indian languages will apply prospectively to students entering Class 6 under the new curriculum framework.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The three-language policy sounds good in theory, but in practice, many state schools lack qualified teachers for Sanskrit or other Indian languages. Hope the government provides proper training and resources. Also, why French and German over regional languages like Tamil or Telugu?
Finally! Been waiting for this. My daughter is in CBSE class 9 and the old textbooks were so outdated. The NEP focus on critical thinking is much needed. But August release for some books? Cutting it close for teachers to plan lessons. 😅
As an expat living in India, I'm impressed by the scale of this curriculum overhaul. The phased rollout for Classes 10 and 11 seems smart. Back home in the US, textbook changes often cause chaos. India is doing this systematically. Kudos to NCERT!
My concern is the digital divide. Not all schools have proper internet or devices for digital textbooks. The print versions better be affordable and widely available. Also, hope the content doesn't get politicized - education should be above all that.
The three-language policy seems to be creating more confusion than clarity. Why force students to learn three languages when English and Hindi are already enough for most careers? Let local bodies decide what's best for their regions. Flexibility is key.
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