CBSE has made Amendments in Chapter 2 Clause 2.4.7 Affiliated by Bye-Laws 2018

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made a few amendments in Chapter 2, clause 2.4.7 affiliated with Bye-Law 2018. The change has been made to run a uniform education system content and protect against any content that might be offensive. Changes are introduced keeping in mind the compulsory use of NCERT textbooks in Indian schools. The amendment came into force on 12 August 2024.

The official notification says “The following amendments have been made in chapter 2, clause 2 4. 7 of the Affiliation Bye-Laws 2018, in respect of the rule position on the provisions for use of the textbooks by schools and will come into force from the date of issue of this notification.”

Rule position as per present affiliation Bye-Laws 2018
Chapter-2 (2.4.7)

• The School may prescribe NCERT textbooks in the classes and subjects in which these have been published by the NCERT. Extreme care should be taken in the selection of books from private publishers so that there Is no objectionable content that hurts the feelings of any class, community, gender or religious group in society.
• The school shall put a list of prescribed books on its website with the written declaration duly signed by the Manager and the Principal to the effect that they have gone through the contents of the books prescribed by the school and own the responsibility. If a school Is found prescribing a book having any objectionable content, the responsibility for such content shall lie with the school and action will be initiated against the School by the Board.

Proposed Amended Rule (2.4.7)
Classes I to VIII

• Schools are strongly advised to follow NCERT/ SCERT textbooks. Schools may use supplementary material as per their requirement which must be aligned with the NCF-FS and NCF-SE. Such chosen supplementary material must aim to contain the essential core material (together with discussion, analysis, examples, and applications).

Classes IX to XII

• Schools shall mandatorily follow the NCERT textbooks prescribed in the CBSE curriculum. For subjects in which NCERT/ SCERT books are not available, CBSE books uploaded on the website must be followed. Schools can use supplementary material as per their requirement. The use of Digital Content can also be explored to augment the textbooks. The supplementary material and Digital Content used by the school must invariably be aligned with NCF-SE.
• Extreme care should be taken while using supplementary material, Digital Content as well as books of private publishers, if so used, so that there is no objectionable content that hurts the feelings of any class, community, gender or any religious group in society.

(2.4.7.1)

• Schools shall put a list of prescribed books for all the classes on their website with the written declaration duly signed by the manager and the principal to the effect that they have gone through the contents of the books prescribed by the school and own the responsibility. If a school is found prescribing a book having any objectionable content, the responsibility for such content shall lie with the school and action will be initiated against the school by the board.

The orders have been sent to the following:

1. All Managers/ Principals of schools Affiliated to CBSE
2. The Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, 18 Institutional Area, Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, New Delhi 110016.
3. The Commissioner, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, B-15, Institutional Area, Sector 62, Noida 201307, District Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. 4. The Commissioner, National Education Society for Tribal Students, Gate No. 3А,
Jeevan Tara Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001 5. Director of Education Delhi, Chandigarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Puducherry, A&N Island
6. Director, Central Tibetan School Administration, Ess Ess Plaza, Community Centre, Sector 3, Rohini, Delhi 110085.
7. Directors of Secondary Education of all States
8. Deputy Secretary to Chairperson, CBSE for kind information to the Chairperson.
9. All Directors/Regional Directors of the Board.
10. All the Regional Officers/CoE Heads of CBSE.
11. Joint Secretary (IT), CBSE, Preet Vihar, Delhi 92 with a request to disseminate the information further.
12. Joint Secretary (Co-ordination Unit), CBSE.