April 1 session nears, but CBSE schools still waiting for new Class 9 NCERT books

CBSE schools are set to begin the new academic session from April 1, but the new NCERT Class 9 books are not ready yet. NCERT said the Class 9 books are still under development. CBSE schools now face uncertainty, while teachers are being asked to bridge the gap for students.

In Short

• CBSE schools are waiting for new NCERT Class 9 books
• NCERT says the books will be ready for 2026-27
• Teachers are being asked to manage the transition carefully

The new academic session in CBSE schools is set to begin from April 1, but schools across the country are still waiting for the revised NCERT textbooks for Class 9.

The delay has created uncertainty for both teachers and students, especially as the new curriculum is expected to be introduced alongside the updated books.

NCERT has stated that the Class 9 textbooks are still under development in line with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. While the process is underway, there is no clear timeline yet on when the books will be made available to schools.

The situation has left schools in a difficult position. With the academic session starting as scheduled, teachers may have to begin classes without the prescribed textbooks.

This means they will need to rely on older material, reference content, or their own notes to ensure that learning continues without disruption.

NEW CURRICULUM, OLD CHALLENGES

The delay is linked to a larger shift in the school education system. NCERT is revising textbooks in phases to align them with the National Education Policy 2020 and the NCF-SE 2023.

As part of this transition, new books for Classes 1 to 8 have already been introduced.

However, the rollout for secondary classes is taking more time. Class 9 is among the first in this segment to undergo major changes, which is why the preparation of textbooks is still ongoing.

According to official information, the revised books for Class 9 are expected to be implemented from the 2026-27 academic session.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR STUDENTS

For students entering Class 9, the delay could lead to confusion in the initial weeks of the session. Without textbooks, it becomes harder to follow a structured learning plan, especially when a new syllabus is expected to be introduced.

Teachers, on the other hand, will have to ensure that students are prepared for the upcoming curriculum while managing the lack of official books.

NCERT has advised schools to focus on building prerequisite knowledge so that students can smoothly transition once the new textbooks are released.

A WAIT WITH NO CLEAR DATE

The absence of a confirmed release date has added to the uncertainty. Schools are preparing to begin the session on time, but the gap between curriculum planning and textbook availability remains a concern.

As the shift to a new education framework continues, the delay highlights the challenges of implementing large-scale academic reforms.

For now, CBSE schools will have to bridge the gap until the new Class 9 NCERT books finally reach classrooms.

- Ends