NCERT will release new Class 9 textbooks by April 15 for the 2026–27 academic year.These books are based on NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023. As per the reports of Hindustan Times, NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani made this announcement at a webinar hosted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) at its Dwarka headquarters on Thursday. He said most of the books are already being printed. He added that the delay happened because nearly 4,000 experts were involved in detailed discussions to prepare the content.
A shift from the past:
According to the reports, NCERT textbooks were written by one or very few authors earlier. That approach has changed entirely. "Earlier, NCERT textbooks were often written by one person or a small group of two to four authors, leading to varying perspectives. That does not mean those books were of low quality - generations have studied them and gone on to become doctors, engineers, and civil servants.
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Now, around 4,000 experts are involved in writing the new textbooks, which naturally requires more time due to detailed discussions among them to come to a conclusion," Dinesh Prasad Saklani said. Books for Classes 1 to 8 under the new framework have already been released.
Sensitive titles under extra review:
The reports of the Hindustan Times further added that most Class 9 books will be out between April 10 and 15. A small number need additional scrutiny. "The remaining books require more careful review, as they often attract intense debate and controversy after publication. We are making every effort to minimise such controversies," Dinesh Prasad Saklani said. This careful step comes after a Supreme Court of India rebuke in February 2026 over a Class 8 chapter on “Corruption in the Judiciary.” After this, NCERT apologised and recalled over 80,000 copies. A March 17 advisory also said Classes 10 and 11 will get NEP-based books from 2027–28.
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Schools asked to start without delay:
As per the report, the new session began on April 1 across more than 32,900 CBSE-affiliated schools, where NCERT textbooks are mandatory for Classes 9 to 12. CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh urged schools not to wait. "We urge schools to start classroom transactions based on the syllabus already available. For languages, teachers can begin with the grammar components. In mathematics and science, initial topics can be covered, and the social science curriculum can also be introduced," he said. Dinesh Prasad Saklani also urged principals to align school culture with NCF-SE 2023 and focus on understanding students better while improving infrastructure.
