NCERT Introduces New Subjects: Theater, Music, Drama & Visual Arts to Be Mandatory

New Delhi: In a major move aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced the introduction of Theater, Music, Drama, and Visual Arts as compulsory subjects for Class 8 students starting from the academic year 2025–26.

According to an official post by NCERT on X.com, Art will no longer be optional — all students will be required to study and pass the subject in order to progress to the next class. This policy marks a significant step towards holistic education by integrating creative arts into mainstream academics.

To support this new curriculum, NCERT has launched a dedicated Art textbook titled "Kriti", which will be taught in Class 8 from the 2025–26 session.

In addition to Kriti, NCERT has unveiled a range of revised textbooks:

• Class 8:

  • "Poorvi": A revised English textbook

  • "Malhar": A new Hindi textbook

• Class 5:

  • "Santoor": English textbook

  • "Veena": Hindi textbook

These curriculum updates aim to offer a more well-rounded, engaging, and inclusive learning experience for students across the country.