The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced crucial amendments to its Affiliation Bye-Laws, mandating using NCERT textbooks in schools across India. These changes, detailed in Chapter 2, Clause 2.4.7 of the Affiliation Bye-Laws 2018, are intended to standardise educational content and prevent the inclusion of objectionable material. The revised guidelines, issued by CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta, are effective immediately, reflecting the Board’s dedication to upholding high educational standards.
For students in classes I to VIII, the guidelines strongly recommend using NCERT or SCERT textbooks. Schools are allowed to supplement these materials, provided they align with the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE).
The CBSE emphasises that any supplementary resources should not only reinforce the core content but also offer discussions, analysis, examples, and practical applications. This approach ensures a well-rounded educational experience, fostering both theoretical knowledge and its real-world applications.
For classes IX to XII, NCERT textbooks are now mandatory. In cases where NCERT or SCERT textbooks are unavailable, schools must use CBSE-approved books from the Board’s official website. While supplementary materials and digital content may still be incorporated, they must strictly adhere to the NCF-SE guidelines. The CBSE encourages using digital content to enhance traditional textbooks, making learning more dynamic and engaging.
A key focus of the revised guidelines is content sensitivity. Schools must ensure that no educational material contains content that could be considered offensive to any class, community, gender, or religious group.
Additionally, schools are required to publicly disclose their prescribed book lists on their websites, accompanied by a declaration signed by both the Manager and the Principal, affirming their responsibility for the content. Any failure to comply may result in CBSE taking appropriate action against the school.