The Union education ministry has directed the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to implement an annual review system for textbooks, ensuring necessary changes are made before printing new textbooks ahead of each academic session. While the NCERT has been revising content since 2017, there was no fixed mandate for yearly reviews until now. The recent directive aims to ensure that students receive updated versions of textbooks each year.
Senior officials at the Ministry emphasized the importance of yearly reviews, stating that textbooks should evolve to reflect new developments and knowledge. For example, topics like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are continually evolving, and textbooks need to incorporate such advancements. The directive seeks to ensure that textbooks remain relevant and up-to-date with the latest information.
Implementing this directive will take time, with officials estimating that it will be at least two years before all textbooks are updated in accordance with the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF). By the academic session 2026-27, students across all classes are expected to have access to new textbooks aligned with the NCF. This systematic approach to textbook review and updating aims to enhance the quality education and keep students abreast of current knowledge and developments.
