The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has clarified that students of Classes 10 and 11 will continue with existing textbooks in the current academic session, with the much-anticipated overhaul now pushed to 2027–28.

In an advisory outlining the phased implementation of reforms under the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, NCERT said new textbooks for Classes 10 and 11 will not be introduced this year as earlier expected.

The council noted that foundational work is already underway across grades. Textbooks for Classes 1 to 8 have been completed and are available in both print and digital formats. For Class 9, new textbooks are still in development and will be rolled out from the 2026–27 academic session. Draft syllabi aligned with NCF-SE 2023 have also been uploaded for feedback from educators.

Class 9 gets a literary reset

Even as senior classes await changes, Class 9 has begun seeing the shift. NCERT has introduced a new English textbook, Kaveri, replacing the long-running Beehive and Moments.

Designed under the new curriculum framework, Kaveri signals a clear pivot towards Indian voices and knowledge systems. The book features 16 curated texts—down from 29 earlier—balancing Indian and international authors equally.

Among Indian contributors are Subramania Bharati, Sudha Murty, Temsula Ao, Mitra Phukan and Rabindranath Tagore. The collection opens with a story from Murty’s How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories.

Global voices remain part of the mix, including works by David Roth, Charles Swain, Bryanna T Perkins, Robert Langley, Maya Anthony and Irene Chua. It also includes an interview-based piece on Paralympian Deepa Malik.

Officials said the consolidation—from two textbooks to one and fewer texts overall—is aimed at reducing academic load while ensuring a more balanced and representative curriculum.

The broader transition, however, remains staggered—leaving Classes 10 and 11 students waiting at least two more years for their turn in India’s curriculum reset.