NCERT
Role, Structure, and Textbook Revision Process
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, established in 1961 by merging seven national government institutions. It functions as the apex body for improving the quality of school education and is the primary developer of model curricula and textbooks for central board (CBSE) schools.
NCERT's mandate: - Developing model textbooks aligned with the National Curriculum Framework - Supporting state governments in curriculum development - Conducting research in school education - Advising Central and State governments on education policy
The National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 was released by NCERT in August 2023 as a framework for a comprehensive revision of school textbooks under NEP 2020. The NCF-SE 2023 is the fourth NCF (earlier versions: 1975, 1988, 2000, 2005). The 2026 textbook controversey emerged from this NCF-SE 2023-guided revision cycle — the first major overhaul in nearly two decades.
- NCERT established: 1961; headquartered in New Delhi (Sri Aurobindo Marg)
- Autonomous organisation under Ministry of Education (not a statutory body; set up under Societies Registration Act)
- Approximately 30 crore students in ~1.5 lakh CBSE-affiliated schools use NCERT textbooks
- NCF-SE 2023: released August 2023; guides current textbook revision; India's 5th National Curriculum Framework
- Existing NCERT textbooks (2005-06 vintage) being phased out; replaced class-by-class under NCF 2023
- Social Science in Class 8 restructured: earlier "History," "Geography," "Civics" replaced by integrated "Exploring Society: India and Beyond"
● Tracked since February 26, 2026 · last seen March 11, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes