How NCERT Is Changing Textbooks Under NEP 2020
NCERT is updating school curricula and textbooks under NEP 2020, with new frameworks, public consultation, skill-based learning and detailed textbook reviews.
AC Team
NCERT is changing school education in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The changes cover the syllabus, textbooks, classroom methods and student assessment. The aim is to make learning more useful, clear and suited to each stage of a child’s growth.
The work is based on two key documents: the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) 2022 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. These frameworks guide what students should learn, how teachers should teach and how schools should assess progress.
What the new curriculum frameworks mean
The NCF-FS focuses on children in the early years, including Balvatika and the first years of primary school. It gives importance to play, stories, local language, activities and learning through daily experiences.
The NCF-SE covers school education in a wider way. It sets goals for different stages and subjects. It also links learning outcomes with skills, rather than focusing only on the amount of content a student can remember.
In simple terms, the new approach asks a useful question: can a student use what they have learnt? A child may know a maths formula, for example, but the real test is whether they can use it to solve a problem in daily life. This is better than treating the textbook like a memory contest.
Large public participation in the process
NCERT used a wide consultation process while preparing the curriculum frameworks. The process included teachers, students, parents, school leaders, education experts, Anganwadi workers, universities and civil society groups.
- More than 13 lakh students and parents took part in a national mobile app survey.
- More than 1.5 lakh people joined state-level mobile app surveys.
- Over 1,550 district consultations took place across 32 States and Union Territories.
- About 8,000 stakeholders joined 12 consultations with universities and civil society groups.
- More than 600 position papers were prepared on 25 themes.
State and Union Territory focus groups included more than 4,000 experts. NCERT also formed national focus groups with over 175 members. This bottom-up process was designed to bring local needs and classroom experience into the new curriculum.
New syllabi and textbooks for Grades 1 to 9
After the frameworks were ready, NCERT formed the National Syllabus and Teaching-Learning Material Committee, or NSTC. The committee works with 13 Curricular Area Groups and Textbook Development Teams for different subjects and grades.
NCERT has brought out new syllabi and textbooks for Grades 1 to 9. These materials follow the goals set by the two curriculum frameworks. They are meant to support classroom learning, activities, discussion and the use of knowledge outside the classroom.
For young children, NCERT has also created learning resources called Jaadui Pitara and e-Jaadui Pitara. These resources are meant for Balvatika 1, 2 and 3. They include material that can support learning through play, stories, art, games and hands-on tasks. For many children, this sounds much better than starting the day with a thick notebook and a worried look at the clock.
How NCERT reviews each textbook
NCERT says that its textbooks go through several rounds of review before publication. The process starts with a detailed mapping of curricular goals, competencies and learning outcomes.
Experts then review the drafts for:
- Subject accuracy
- Age-appropriate content
- Clear and suitable language
- Inclusive representation
- Gender sensitivity
- Cultural and linguistic relevance
- Constitutional values
- Teaching and learning methods
- Alignment with NEP 2020
This review matters because a textbook does more than explain a subject. It also shapes how students see people, places, work and society. A good book should be correct, easy to follow and suitable for children from different backgrounds.
What students, parents and teachers can expect
Students may see more activities, examples from daily life and questions that test understanding. The new material may also connect subjects with local culture, Indian knowledge, art, sports and practical tasks.
Parents can expect learning to move beyond marks and memorisation. They may need to support projects, reading, discussion and simple activities at home. This does not mean every parent must become a full-time teacher. Asking a child to explain an idea in their own words can be a good start.
Teachers will play a key role in using the new books. The textbook is a guide, not a script that must be read line by line. Teachers may use group work, classroom questions, local examples and regular feedback to help students build skills.
Textbooks will continue to be updated
NCERT has said that it updates textbooks during annual reprinting when it receives useful feedback from students, teachers and other stakeholders. This allows the books to improve over time and helps address errors, unclear sections or gaps in learning material.
For schools, the shift under NEP 2020 will depend on more than new books. Teacher support, school facilities, training, local language resources and fair assessment will also shape how well the new curriculum works in classrooms across India.
