In a major stride toward aligning school education with the National Curriculum Framework, the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department has announced that over one lakh Class 4 students in government primary schools will begin using NCERT textbooks from the 2026–27 academic year.

The move marks the next phase of the state’s curriculum overhaul, which began with Classes 1 and 2 last year and expanded to Class 3 in the 2025–26 session. Officials said the gradual transition aims to unify learning standards across schools while keeping regional needs in focus.

New NCERT textbooks from 2026–27

Under the initiative, Class 4 students will receive new NCERT books tailored for Uttar Pradesh, including Veena (Hindi), Santoor (English), Ganit Melaanit Mela (Mathematics), Hamara Adbhut Sansar (Environmental Studies), Sanskrit Sudha, Bansuri (Art Education), and Riyazi (Urdu), each paired with workbooks.

The publishing and distribution process is already underway to ensure that all materials reach schools before the new academic session begins on April 1, 2026. Experts from the State Institute of Education, the Institute of English Language Teaching, and the State Hindi Institute are adapting the content, which will undergo a final review by NCERT before printing.

Digital tools gather dust

Even as curriculum reforms progress, the state’s push for digital learning remains underwhelming. Officials have noted limited use of smart classrooms, ICT labs, and digital libraries, despite large-scale infrastructure investments.

Director of School Education Monica Rani has directed district authorities to identify ten schools in each district where digital tool usage is lowest. Headmasters of these schools will be required to explain the lack of implementation.

In the last two years, the state has installed 7,409 smart classrooms, 4,686 ICT labs, and 570 digital libraries—but many remain idle. The Director General has now ordered regular reviews to ensure these facilities, created through public investment, serve their intended purpose.

Ayurveda in education

In a parallel initiative, the Uttar Pradesh government is collaborating with NCERT and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to develop course modules on Ayurveda for schools and colleges. The goal is to introduce students to holistic health principles and integrate traditional Indian knowledge systems with modern pedagogy.