Home / Education / NCERT Overhauls Class 9 English: Fewer Texts, More Indian Voices
NCERT Overhauls Class 9 English: Fewer Texts, More Indian Voices
12 Mar
Summary
- Class 9 English curriculum replaced with 'Kaveri' textbook.
- Prescribed texts reduced from 29 to 16, focusing on Indian writers.
- New approach emphasizes interpretation, discussion, and expression.
NCERT is introducing a revamped Class 9 English curriculum for the 2026-27 academic session, featuring a new textbook titled 'Kaveri'. This change significantly reduces the total number of prescribed texts from 29 to 16. The revised syllabus emphasizes Indian writers, with only O. Henry's 'The Last Leaf' retained from the previous selection.
The 'Kaveri' textbook aligns with NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. It incorporates elements of Indian Knowledge Systems and features eight texts by Indian authors and six by foreign writers. Notably, it includes works by Sudha Murty, Rabindranath Tagore, and an interview with Paralympian Deepa Malik.
Beyond the reduction in texts, the curriculum logic has shifted. 'Kaveri' aims to move students from passive comprehension towards interpretation, discussion, and expression. It includes more pre-reading prompts, inference-based questions, and speaking and writing activities, signaling a move towards competency-based learning.
The new syllabus emphasizes cultural rootedness and Indian Knowledge Systems, positioning English not just as a window to other literatures but as a medium to carry and articulate Indian experiences. This shift requires teachers to adapt their methods to support discussion, inference, and activity-based learning.
