NCERT Books – Every Parent Question Answered

TL;DR 

This is a consolidated answer guide for every question Indian parents commonly ask about NCERT books – covering what they are, how they relate to CBSE and other boards, whether they’re enough for board exams, how editions change, what things cost, whether used copies work, and how to get books without paying more than you need to. If a question about NCERT books has been sitting in your head, the answer is most likely here.

There’s a particular kind of confusion that settles over parents when their child moves into a new class. The school circular has arrived. The booklist is in hand. And the questions start piling up – quietly at first, then with increasing urgency as the new session approaches.
Is NCERT enough for Class 10 boards, or should we buy additional books? Our school is asking us to buy books from a particular shop – do we have to? My child’s older sibling used the same books two years ago – can we use those? What exactly is the difference between NCERT and CBSE? Someone in the parent group said the books have changed – is that true for our class?

These are not small questions. Getting the wrong answer – or worse, getting no answer – leads to either overspending or underpreparing. This guide exists to prevent both.

What follows is a structured, honest answer to every significant question parents ask about NCERT books. Not a glossy overview – actual answers.

Section 1 – The Basics

What exactly is NCERT, and who runs it?

NCERT stands for the National Council of Educational Research and Training. It is an autonomous organisation established by the Government of India on 1 September 1961, operating under the Ministry of Education. It was formed through the merger of seven existing educational bodies, with a mandate to develop a unified, high-quality curriculum for Indian school education.

NCERT’s primary work is developing and publishing textbooks, supplementary readers, and educational resources for Classes 1 through 12. It also conducts educational research, develops teacher training programmes, and periodically revises the National Curriculum Framework – the document that defines what and how students across India are taught.

It is a separate organisation from CBSE, the UGC, and the Ministry of Education, though it works closely with all three.

What are NCERT books, and why do so many schools use them?

NCERT books are the official textbooks published by NCERT for Classes 1 to 12 across all core subjects. They cover Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English, Hindi, Sanskrit, and stream-specific subjects from Class 11 onwards.

Several things explain their widespread adoption:

• Curriculum authority – CBSE officially mandates NCERT books as the primary study material for all its affiliated schools. Since CBSE is the largest school board in India with over 27,000 affiliated schools, this alone makes NCERT books the dominant textbooks in the country.
• Exam alignment – Board exam question papers for Classes 10 and 12 are set in alignment with NCERT content. Questions are derived directly or closely from NCERT chapters, exercises, and examples.
• Quality and accessibility – NCERT books are developed by subject-matter experts with a mandate for conceptual clarity and accuracy. They are also priced at government-regulated MRP – among the most affordable school textbooks available.
• State board adoption – Beyond CBSE, approximately 19 state boards across 14 states have either directly adopted NCERT books or based their own curriculum closely on them. This includes boards in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and others.
• Competitive exam relevance – UPSC, NEET, JEE, CUET, and several state-level entrance exams draw from NCERT content, making these books relevant well beyond school years.

Is NCERT the same as CBSE?

No – they are distinct organisations with different roles, though they work closely together.

	NCERT	CBSE
Full name	National Council of Educational Research and Training	Central Board of Secondary Education
Role	Develops and publishes textbooks and curriculum frameworks	Affiliates schools, conducts board exams, sets paper patterns
Established	1961	1929
Under	Ministry of Education	Ministry of Education
What it produces	Textbooks, supplementary material, NCF	Board exam papers, affiliation norms, result declarations

CBSE prescribes NCERT books – it does not write or publish them. The confusion is understandable because the two names appear together constantly in school conversations. But NCERT is the publisher; CBSE is the board. One makes the books; the other conducts the exams based on those books.

Section 2 – NCERT Books and Board Exams

Are NCERT books enough for CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 board exams?

For most subjects, yes – and this is not a cautious hedge. CBSE itself has issued circulars to schools stating that “NCERT textual materials are the base for preparing test items in the Board Examinations and the Question Paper of CBSE is set according to the prescribed syllabus.” Schools have been explicitly advised against prescribing additional books or coercing parents to buy them.

In practice:

• Mathematics (Class 10 and 12): Board questions are drawn directly from NCERT examples and exercises. A student who has worked through every example and every exercise in the NCERT Maths book is well-prepared for the board paper.
• Science (Class 10): Concepts, diagrams, and numerical problems in board papers are sourced from NCERT. The in-text questions (those within the chapter, not just at the end) frequently appear in board papers.
• Social Science (Class 10): Questions test understanding of NCERT chapters. Long-answer questions require the kind of explanatory depth that only comes from reading the original NCERT text – not from summaries or guide-book answers.
• Biology (Class 12): Approximately 90% of NEET Biology questions are directly traceable to NCERT Class 11 and 12 Biology. For CBSE board preparation, NCERT Biology is the complete source.
• Chemistry and Physics (Class 12): NCERT is the primary source for both. For JEE aspirants, NCERT is the necessary foundation from which advanced preparation builds – but it is still the starting point, not an optional supplement.

Where additional practice helps: 

For students aiming for 95+ in Maths or Science, the NCERT Exemplar (a separate NCERT publication with higher-order questions) is a useful supplement after completing the main textbook. For English grammar and writing sections, regular practice beyond NCERT is beneficial. But in no case does a reference book or guide replace NCERT – it can only extend it.

Do board exam questions come directly from NCERT?

Very often, yes. Board questions for CBSE are set within the scope of the NCERT syllabus. In subjects like Mathematics and Science, questions are frequently lifted verbatim from NCERT exercises or minimally rephrased. In Social Science, the NCERT text provides the exact arguments, examples, and frameworks that board answers are expected to reflect.

This is also why students who skip NCERT in favour of only reading guide books often perform inconsistently – guides paraphrase NCERT, but the board examiner marks against the standard that NCERT sets, and that precision is lost in translation.

My child’s school prescribes books from a private publisher alongside NCERT. Is that required?

Not as a substitute for NCERT – no. CBSE has been explicit on this point. Its circulars to affiliated schools state that prescribing too many books and requiring parents to buy them is “an unhealthy practice that is educationally unsound.” Schools are not supposed to mandate private publisher books in place of or as compulsory additions to NCERT.

In practice, many schools do recommend reference books – RD Sharma for Maths, HC Verma for Physics, RS Aggarwal for various subjects – and for aspirational students preparing for competitive exams, some of these have genuine value. But they are supplements, not replacements, and no school should be making them compulsory purchases.

If a school is requiring you to buy expensive books from a specific vendor as a condition of attending, that is worth questioning – and if necessary, reporting to CBSE’s affiliated schools division.

Section 3 – Editions, Changes, and Validity

How often do NCERT books change?

NCERT books change at different frequencies depending on the type of change:

• Minor updates (correcting errors, updating data, revising a diagram): These happen occasionally and do not substantially affect the book’s content. A copy from the previous session is typically still usable.
• Rationalisation (removal of chapters or sections from existing books): This happened significantly in 2022, when approximately 30% of content was removed across several subjects in Classes 6 to 12. After rationalisation, older copies may include chapters no longer assessed in board exams. The book isn’t wrong – it just has more than what’s currently required.
• Full revision (new books with new titles under a new curriculum framework): This is happening currently under NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023, class by class from Class 6 onwards. These are not updated editions – they are entirely new books. For classes undergoing this kind of revision, old copies are not interchangeable with new ones.
• Major curriculum revisions – the kind that produce entirely new textbooks – are rare. The previous National Curriculum Framework (NCF) lasted from 2005 to 2023: eighteen years. The current revision is expected to be similarly long-lasting once all classes have been updated.

Can my child use last year’s NCERT books for the new session?

It depends on the class and when the books were last updated. A practical reference:

Class Group	Situation	Can last year’s books be used?
Classes 1–5	Very stable; minimal changes year to year	Usually yes
Classes 6, 7, 8	New NEP-aligned books introduced (new titles)	No – content is structurally different
Classes 9, 10	Rationalised since 2022; no new titles yet	Yes, if copy is from 2022 or later
Classes 11, 12	Same titles; rationalised content	Yes, if copy is from 2022 or later

The simplest verification: open the book to the Prelims section (first two to three pages) and check the reprint or edition year. For Classes 9 to 12, a 2022 or later reprint is the current version. For Classes 6 to 8, the new books have entirely new titles – if the title doesn’t match, it’s the old edition.

When in doubt, confirm against your school’s prescribed booklist for the session.

How do I verify I have the correct edition of an NCERT book?

Three reliable ways:

1. Check the Prelims: Open to the first few pages. The edition and most recent reprint year are printed here. Compare against when the last known revision happened for that class.
2. Check the title: For Classes 6, 7, and 8, new books have new names – Curiosity (Science), Exploring Society (Social Science), Poorvi (Class 6 English), Malhar (Class 6 Hindi), Ganit Prakash (Maths). If the title on your child’s book doesn’t match, it’s the older edition.
3. Check the NCERT website: Go to ncert.nic.in and navigate to the textbook portal. The books listed in the dropdown for each class and subject are the current prescribed ones. If a title appears there that differs from what your child has, your copy is outdated.

My child’s older sibling studied Class 10 two years ago. Can we use those NCERT books?

For Class 10 specifically, yes – in most cases. Class 10 NCERT books were rationalised in 2022, and copies from that session onwards cover the current syllabus. A copy used two or three years ago will reflect this rationalised version and is board-ready.

The only check worth doing: confirm the book’s reprint year is 2022 or later, and cross-check the chapter list against the current CBSE syllabus document (freely available on cbseacademic.nic.in). If all chapters are present, the book is valid.

One practical note: Class 10 is the year where having a personal, annotatable copy matters most – board revision involves repeated returns to the same pages. If a sibling’s copy is heavily written in, a fresh used copy might be worth considering rather than the heavily-annotated sibling copy.

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing School Books for Your Child 

Section 4 – NCERT Books and State Boards

My child studies under a state board (UP Board, Maharashtra Board, etc.) – are NCERT books relevant?

For many state boards, NCERT books are either directly prescribed or form the basis of the state’s own curriculum. The following states have either adopted NCERT books or heavily aligned their curriculum with them: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and several northeastern states.

For students in these states, studying from NCERT books is not just acceptable – it may be the exact same content as their board’s prescribed book.

For state boards that have their own distinct textbooks (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and others), NCERT books are still relevant in one specific context: competitive exam preparation. UPSC, NEET, JEE, CUET, and most national-level exams are designed around the NCERT curriculum. State board students preparing for these exams study NCERT books independently of their school curriculum – and this is entirely appropriate and widely practised.

Does the ICSE board use NCERT books?

ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) has its own separate curriculum and uses books from private publishers – not NCERT. The ICSE syllabus tends to be broader and, in some subjects, more detailed than CBSE-NCERT.

However, ICSE students preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, NEET, or JEE frequently study NCERT books alongside their school curriculum, particularly for subjects like History, Geography, Biology, and Chemistry, where the NCERT treatment forms the basis of exam questions.

Section 5 – Costs and Buying

How much do NCERT books cost?

NCERT books are priced at government-regulated MRP – among the lowest of any school textbooks in India. Individual book prices typically range from ₹40 to ₹200 depending on the class and subject. A full set for a given class costs significantly less than equivalent private publisher books.

Approximate full-set costs at MRP:

Class	Approx. Full Set Cost (MRP)
Classes 1–5	₹200–₹400
Classes 6–8	₹400–₹700
Classes 9–10	₹600–₹900
Class 11 (Science)	₹1,500–₹2,000
Class 11 (Commerce/Arts)	₹1,000–₹1,500
Class 12 (Science)	₹1,500–₹2,000
Class 12 (Commerce/Arts)	₹1,000–₹1,500

Note: For Classes 11 and 12, many subjects have two-part books (Physics Part I and Part II, Chemistry Part I and Part II, etc.), each priced separately. The full-set cost assumes all prescribed books including both parts.

These prices are for new books. Used copies on BookMandee are typically priced well below MRP, with individual sellers setting their own prices.

My school is charging far more than MRP for the book set. Is this allowed?

No. Schools are not permitted to sell books above MRP or mandate that parents buy from a specific vendor at inflated prices. CBSE has explicitly issued circulars stating that coercing parents to buy additional or overpriced books is an “unhealthy practice”. NCERT books must be made available at their government-regulated MRP.

If a school is bundling books with stationery, uniforms, or other items and charging an inflated combined price, parents have the right to source books independently – from NCERT sales counters, local vendors, online retailers, or used-book platforms – and purchase only the books actually prescribed.

Should I buy new NCERT books or used ones?

The most cost-effective approach most parents miss: used copies work perfectly well for classes where the books haven’t changed.

A used Class 10 Science NCERT from last session has the same syllabus, the same chapters, the same exercises, and the same diagrams as a new one. The only difference is the price. For classes where the content is stable – primarily Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 – used copies are a sensible, legitimate choice.

Buy new when:

• The class has received entirely new books under NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023 (currently Classes 6, 7, and 8)
• The used copy available is visibly damaged, missing pages, or heavily written over
• The reprint year of the used copy predates the 2022 rationalisation (for Classes 9–12)

Buy used when:

• Your child is in Classes 9 to 12 and the books are stable
• You can find a well-maintained copy from a recent session
• You want to save cost on a large set, like Class 11 Science (7–8 individual books)

Where can I find used NCERT books?

Parents whose children have just moved up a class list their NCERT books – often in very good condition – through used book platforms and local networks. BookMandee is built specifically for this: Indian parents and students list and buy used books across all classes and subjects, pan India.

The process on BookMandee is straightforward. Sellers list books with condition details, edition information, etc. Buyers browse by class and subject, connect with sellers through the platform, and arrange purchase directly. Unlike general classified listings, BookMandee is a book-specific platform – which means search filters work as they should, listings include relevant details, and you’re not sifting through unrelated items.

For parents entering a high-cost year like Class 11 or 12, sourcing through BookMandee can meaningfully reduce the total expenditure – particularly since these classes have the largest number of books and the highest MRP per set.

Are NCERT books available for free?

Yes – all NCERT books are freely available as PDFs on the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in/textbook.php). No registration, login, or payment is required. Books are available in English, Hindi, and Urdu mediums across all classes.

The PDF versions are complete and accurate – not excerpted or partial. They are the same content as the physical book, including all diagrams, exercises, and supplementary material.

Many students use the PDF for daily reading and reference, while keeping a physical copy for active revision and board preparation – where annotation, bookmarking, and working in the margins makes a practical difference.

Also Read: How to Get Free NCERT Books?

Section 6 – NCERT Books for Competitive Exams

Are NCERT books relevant for UPSC preparation?

Yes – they are foundational. The standard advice given to UPSC aspirants, consistently reinforced by toppers and coaching institutions alike, is to read NCERT books from Classes 6 to 12 across History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, and Science before picking up any standard UPSC reference.

The reason is not that NCERT books contain everything a UPSC aspirant needs – they don’t. It is that NCERT establishes the conceptual vocabulary and framework that makes more advanced books accessible. An aspirant who reads Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity without having first read NCERT Political Science from Classes 9 to 12 often finds it dense and disconnected from lived understanding. NCERT builds the foundation.

The specific books most referenced by UPSC toppers:

• History: Classes 6 to 12 – covers Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India progressively and clearly
• Geography: Classes 6 to 12 – particularly strong for Physical Geography (Prelims GS Paper I)
• Political Science: Classes 9 to 12
• Economics: Classes 9 to 12
• Science: Classes 6 to 10 – for General Science questions in Prelims

How much of NEET is actually from NCERT?

A significant portion – particularly in Biology. For NEET Biology, approximately 90% of questions are directly traceable to NCERT Class 11 and 12 Biology. This is not an approximation used to encourage students to study – it is a widely documented pattern across multiple years of NEET papers, consistently noted by coaching educators and toppers.

For Chemistry, NCERT covers the conceptual framework that NEET tests, though additional practice with reaction mechanisms and numerical problems requires supplementary material. For Physics, NCERT is the necessary foundation, with competitive-level depth coming from additional sources.

NEET toppers across years consistently name NCERT Biology as the book they read most thoroughly and most repeatedly.

What about JEE – is NCERT enough?

Not entirely – but it is non-negotiable as a starting point. JEE Mains and Advanced test at a level of depth and difficulty that goes beyond NCERT, particularly in Mathematics and Physics. However, students who bypass NCERT in favour of jumping directly to advanced problem books often develop conceptual gaps that surface in definition-based and foundational questions in JEE Mains.

For Chemistry, NCERT is particularly important – both Mains and Advanced draw heavily from NCERT content for Inorganic and Organic Chemistry. For Physics, NCERT builds the conceptual understanding that makes HC Verma and DC Pandey manageable. For Maths, NCERT sets the foundation from which JEE-level problem practice builds.

The practical approach that works: complete NCERT for every subject, solve all NCERT exercises, then build with reference books and previous year papers. Never in the reverse order.

Section 7 – Practical Guidance for Parents

How do I know which NCERT books my child actually needs?

The most reliable source is your school’s prescribed booklist for the session, usually distributed at the start of the academic year or available from the school office. This list specifies the exact books – including part numbers for subjects with multiple books – that your child’s school follows.

Cross-reference this against the NCERT website (ncert.nic.in) to confirm that the books listed are current NCERT prescriptions. If a book on your school’s list is from a private publisher and not on the NCERT site, it is a supplementary recommendation, not a mandatory NCERT book.

My child just finished Class 10. Should we keep or sell the books?

Sell them – promptly, and for a fair price.

Class 10 NCERT books are among the most in-demand used books in India because Class 10 is one of the largest student cohorts each year. A well-maintained set sold in April or May (when new session demand peaks) will find a buyer quickly and recover a meaningful portion of what you spent.

The only exception: if your child is preparing for competitive exams like NTSE or foundation-level JEE/NEET, some Class 9 and 10 books (particularly Science) remain relevant as conceptual references. Assess this based on your child’s actual plans before selling.

For selling used NCERT books, BookMandee is worth knowing about. Listing is straightforward, pricing guidance is available through their used book price calculator, and the platform reaches buyers across India – not just your local area.

My child uses a guide book alongside NCERT. Is that a problem?

Not inherently – it depends on how the guide is being used. If the guide is helping your child understand a difficult NCERT concept by offering an alternative explanation, that is legitimate supplementary use. If the guide is replacing NCERT – if your child reads the guide’s summary instead of the original NCERT chapter – that is a problem.

Board exams test the specificity of NCERT. A guide-book paraphrase of a concept is almost always less precise than the original NCERT text. Students who rely primarily on guides consistently discover this gap in the exam hall, where board questions expect answers at the level of specificity that only the original NCERT provides.

The healthy pattern: read NCERT first, always. Use a guide to clarify doubts, provide additional solved examples, or offer a different explanation of a concept you found difficult. Never use it as a substitute for the original text.

FAQs

Which boards in India use NCERT books? 

CBSE mandates NCERT books for all its affiliated schools. Additionally, approximately 19 state boards across 14 Indian states have either directly adopted NCERT books or closely based their own curriculum on them. States including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh are among those that follow NCERT books directly or substantially.

Are NCERT books available in regional languages? 

Beyond English, Hindi, and Urdu – which are available for all classes – NCERT has published or authorised translation of books in several other Indian languages. State-level versions in regional languages are produced by state governments using NCERT’s framework under a 5% royalty arrangement. Check your state’s education board website for region-specific language editions.

What is the difference between NCERT and NCERT Exemplar? 

The NCERT textbook is the standard curriculum book – it covers the syllabus with concept explanations, examples, and exercises. The NCERT Exemplar is a separate publication containing higher-order problems – MCQs, application-based and HOTS questions – designed for students who need practice beyond standard board level. Exemplar books exist primarily for Maths and Science in Classes 6 to 12. They are particularly useful for JEE, NEET, and Olympiad preparation. Both are freely downloadable from ncert.nic.in.

Is it safe to buy used NCERT books for board exam preparation? 

Yes, for classes where the books haven’t changed. Used copies of Class 9, 10, 11, and 12 NCERT books from the last one to two sessions are appropriate for board exam preparation – the content and exercises are the same as new copies. Verify the reprint year in the Prelims section (2022 or later for Classes 9 to 12) and check that no chapters are missing. For Classes 6, 7, and 8, new NEP-aligned books with new titles have replaced the older ones – used copies of the old books are not suitable for current students in these classes.

How do I find NCERT books for a specific class near me? 

New NCERT books are available at NCERT official sales counters in major cities, school-authorised vendors, general bookshops and stationers, and online through the NCERT portal or e-commerce platforms. For used copies, BookMandee is a dedicated used-book platform where parents and students across India list NCERT books by class and subject – covering a national pool of listings rather than just your local area.

My school says we must buy books from their vendor. Is this mandatory? 

Under CBSE guidelines, schools cannot mandate that parents buy books exclusively from a school-designated vendor, particularly if the same books are available at MRP elsewhere. CBSE has explicitly advised against this practice. Parents have the right to source prescribed NCERT books from any legitimate channel – NCERT counters, local bookshops, online retailers, or used-book platforms – at MRP or below.

 

This post is part of BookMandee’s NCERT books series – a growing resource for Indian parents and students navigating school books, board exams, and education reform. For a full class-wise breakdown of NCERT books from Class 1 to 12, visit the NCERT Class-wise Guide. To understand how curriculum reform is shaping new editions, see NCERT Books and Education Reform – NEP 2020 and NCF Explained.

Disclaimer

The information in this post is compiled from publicly available sources including NCERT announcements, government education ministry communications, and school-level published book lists, and is intended for informational purposes only. NCERT rollout timelines, book titles, and adoption schedules by individual schools may vary from what is described above. Readers are advised to verify the specific editions prescribed by their school directly with the school administration, and to cross-check book titles and editions on the official NCERT portal at ncert.nic.in before making any purchase or carry-forward decisions. BookMandee does not take responsibility for discrepancies arising from changes made after the time of publication.

BookMandee is a peer-to-peer platform connecting families who want to sell school books they no longer need with those looking to buy them for the current session. Browse listings by class, subject, and edition, or list your own books.