NCERT Textbooks now Mandatory from CBSE Class 9 to 12

The CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) has announced that all affiliated schools must now use NCERT textbooks for all classes, especially from 9 to 12. The decision is made to ensure that all students, no matter which school they attend, have the same learning material and opportunities. 

For years, many schools have used different textbooks, which sometimes make a difference in what students are learning. By making NCERT books mandatory, CBSE aims to bring consistency to classrooms across the country. These books are always known for their clear explanations and strong alignment with board exams and competitive exams like NEET and CUET. 

What’s in it for students?

If you are in classes 9 to 12, here’s how this change affects you:

• With everyone using the same textbooks, you will be at an equal pace with every student across the country.
• We all know how important NCERT books are for competitive exams. By focussing on these books, you will be better prepared for exams like the NEET and JEE.
• If you are used to other textbooks, switching to NCERT might take some time to get used to. These books are concise and to the point, which means you may need to put in a bit more effort to understand difficult concepts, but this will help you sharpen your understanding and problem-solving skills. 

For students, this means that they now need to focus mainly on NCERT books when preparing for their board exams. In the past, many students used extra books from other publishers for more practice. However, with this new rule, the focus will shift to mastering the content in NCERT books.

Schools and teachers will also need to adapt; they will have to make sure that their teaching matches the NCERT curriculum and covers all the important topics. This change will lead to more consistent teaching across CBSE schools. 

Getting Ready for Board Exams

With this new rule, students should prioritise studying NCERT textbooks; they should carefully read each chapter, do all the exercises, and make sure they understand the main points. Since the board exam will be based on the NCERT syllabus, those who prepare well with these books are likely to perform better. 

Teachers can help by giving regular practice tests based on NCERT content so that students get used to the types of questions that might appear in the exams. 

The CBSE has ordered schools to release the data of the books they are using; however, schools can still use their prescribed books, but they need to mandate the NCERT books also.