Art now a core subject for CBSE class 8 students from 2025-26

In a significant shift aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced that from the academic year 2025-26, Class 8 students across CBSE schools will study Art as a compulsory subject. This includes Theatre, Music, Drama, and Visual Arts, making arts education an integral part of the school curriculum.   

The move follows the recommendations outlined in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, which emphasises holistic learning and creativity alongside academic development. NCERT officially announced the change on platform X, stating, “Under the new education policy, from the academic session 2025-26, students of Class 8 will learn theatre, music, drama, and visual arts. Art education will be studied as a compulsory subject.”

To support this new development, NCERT has introduced a dedicated textbook titled ‘Kriti’, designed specifically to teach Art in Class 8. Students must now pass the subject to be promoted to the next class, regardless of whether they opt for it as an elective.

In addition to Kriti, NCERT has also launched revised textbooks for both Classes 5 and 8 for the upcoming academic year. For Class 8, a new English textbook titled ‘Poorvi’ and a Hindi textbook ‘Malhar’ have been introduced. For Class 5, the English book ‘Santoor’ and the Hindi book ‘Veena’ have been added to the curriculum.

This development marks a major step towards nurturing creativity in students and balancing academic rigour with artistic expression. By integrating arts into the core curriculum, NCERT aims to foster well-rounded individuals with a strong foundation in both intellectual and cultural education.