NCERT:
The Union’s education ministry is urging the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to adopt an annual textbook review system to ensure timely updates, according to officials familiar with the matter. Currently, NCERT releases new editions of textbooks each year before the start of the academic session. While there hasn’t been a formal requirement for annual reviews, the Council has been actively revising content since 2017. Notably, significant revisions were made between 2022 and 2023 as part of a syllabus rationalization effort aimed at alleviating student stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senior official within the Ministry emphasize the importance of yearly reivews, stressing that textbooks should evolve with changing times. “NCERT books should not remain static over several years,” one official explained. “Annual reviews ensure that new information, such as developments in fields like Artificial Intelligence, is incorporated into the curriculum.”
Implementing this initiative aligns with the ongoing revision of textbooks to adhere to the new National Curriculum Framework(NCF) 2020. The process of updating all textbooks in line with the NCF is expected to take at least two years, with the revised editions set to be introduced gradually. By the academic session of 2026-27, students across all classes will have access to updated textbooks reflecting the new framework.
In line with these efforts, NCERT has already begun releasing revised textbooks for select classes, with revisions in History, Political Science, and Sociology textbooks already underway. Changes include the removal of certain references and the introduction of new terminology to reflect contemporary realities. For instance, references to events such as the Babri Masjid demolition and the 2002 Gujarat riots have been omitted, while new topics such as the abrogation of Article 370 have been incorporated. Additonally, terminology has been updated, with phrases like “Azad Pakistan” replaced with “Pakistan occupies Jammu and Kashmir(POJK)” to better reflect current geopolitical contexts. Furthermore, revisions have been made to definitions, such as redefining the term “Left” to emphasize a preference for “state regulation over free competition.”
Overall, these initiatives underscore the commitment of both the Ministry and NCERT to ensure that educational materials remain relevant, up-to-date, and reflective of evolving societal norms and educational priorities.