Overview

• From the 2025–26 session, NCERT will make theatre, music, drama and visual arts compulsory for all Class 8 students.
• The new art curriculum will be delivered through the ‘Kriti’ textbook, developed under the NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023 frameworks.
• Students must earn a passing grade in the compulsory art subject to progress to Class 9 regardless of elective choices.
• NCERT also released updated Class 8 language books, including ‘Poorvi’ for English and ‘Malhar’ for Hindi.
• Younger learners will use new Class 5 textbooks ‘Santoor’ in English and ‘Veena’ in Hindi as part of the broader curriculum overhaul.