NCERT Class 9 textbooks delayed ahead of new academic session

CBSE schools are set to begin the new academic session from April 1, but revised NCERT textbooks for Class 9 are yet to reach classrooms, leaving schools to prepare without updated material.

The delay comes as NCERT continues work on new textbooks aligned with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.

The council has indicated that development is still in progress, with no confirmed timeline for when the books will be released.

With the session starting on schedule, schools are expected to proceed with teaching despite the absence of prescribed textbooks. Teachers are likely to depend on older editions, supplementary resources, and self-prepared notes to maintain continuity in lessons.

The pending textbooks are part of a broader overhaul of school education content linked to the National Education Policy 2020 and the NCF SE 2023. While revised books for Classes 1 to 8 have already been introduced, updates for secondary classes are being rolled out more gradually.

Class 9 is among the first at the secondary level to undergo these changes, which have contributed to the extended timeline for textbook preparation. As per official indications, the new books are expected to be implemented from the 2026-27 academic session.

The situation may affect students at the start of the academic year, as the absence of textbooks can make it harder to follow a structured approach to learning, particularly with a revised curriculum expected.

Teachers, meanwhile, will need to balance ongoing instruction with preparation for the updated syllabus. NCERT has advised schools to focus on strengthening foundational concepts so students can transition smoothly once the new books are introduced.

With no clear release date announced, schools are moving ahead with the academic calendar while managing the gap between curriculum changes and textbook availability, highlighting the challenges of large-scale education reforms.