NCERT Introduces Class 9 English Textbook ‘Kaveri’ Under NCF 2023

National Council of Educational Research and Training has introduced a new Class 9 English textbook titled “Kaveri”, developed under the framework of National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. The book replaces the earlier Class 9 English textbooks Beehive and Moments, which had been used in schools for nearly two decades.

The new textbook places greater emphasis on Indian writers, cultural perspectives, and elements of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) while maintaining representation from international authors. According to NCERT, the revised book aims to align school education content with the updated curriculum guidelines introduced through NCF-SE 2023.

NCERT Class 9 English Book ‘Kaveri’ Content Structure

The new Class 9 English textbook includes a balanced mix of literary works from Indian and international authors. Earlier editions of the syllabus, taught between 2006–07 and 2025–26, contained a larger share of texts written by foreign writers.

The new book includes 16 literary texts, with an equal distribution of authors from India and abroad. Among the Indian contributors featured in the book are:

• Subramania Bharati
• Sudha Murty
• Temsula Ao
• Mitra Phukan
• Rabindranath Tagore

The textbook begins with a story from Murty’s 2004 collection “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories.” This selection introduces students to narratives rooted in Indian cultural contexts.

NCERT Curriculum Update Under NCF-SE 2023

The introduction of the Kaveri textbook is part of the broader curriculum reforms being implemented through the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. The revised framework aims to integrate Indian cultural knowledge, literature, and historical perspectives into school textbooks.

NCERT officials indicated that the new English book reflects an effort to maintain diversity in literary voices while ensuring stronger representation of Indian authors and themes relevant to students.

The updated textbook will gradually replace the previous English course books in schools following the NCERT and CBSE curriculum, marking a significant change in the Class 9 English syllabus structure after several years.