The complete guide to downloading free NCERT textbooks and finding solutions for Class 1-12
What Are NCERT Books?
NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) is the body that publishes textbooks for all CBSE-affiliated schools in India. These books are:
- Used by 30,000+ CBSE schools across India and abroad
- Written by subject experts appointed by the Government of India
- The basis for CBSE board exams — 90%+ questions come directly from NCERT
- Essential for competitive exams — JEE, NEET, and UPSC all recommend NCERT as the foundation
- Available for free as PDFs — no payment, no registration required
Source: ncert.nic.in — Official NCERT Website
How to Download Free NCERT Books (Official Method)
NCERT provides all textbooks as free PDFs on their official website. Here's how:
- Go to ncert.nic.in/textbook.php
- Select your Class (1 to 12)
- Select the Subject
- Select the Book Title
- Click "Go" — you'll see all chapters listed
- Download individual chapters or the complete book as PDF
No login, no registration, no payment required. These are official government publications — downloading them is 100% legal and free.
You can also use the ePathshala app (available on Android and iOS) for offline access to all NCERT books.
Complete List of NCERT Books — Class-Wise
Class 1-5 (Primary)
- English: Marigold (1-5), Raindrops (1-2)
- Hindi: Rimjhim (1-5)
- Mathematics: Math-Magic (1-5)
- EVS (Environmental Studies): Looking Around (3-5)
Class 6-8 (Middle School)
- English: Honeysuckle, A Pact with the Sun (6), Honeycomb, An Alien Hand (7), Honeydew, It So Happened (8)
- Hindi: Vasant, Durva, Bal Ram Katha (6-8)
- Mathematics: Mathematics (6-8)
- Science: Science (6-8)
- Social Science: History (Our Pasts), Geography (The Earth Our Habitat), Civics (Social & Political Life)
- Sanskrit: Ruchira (6-8)
Class 9-10 (Secondary — Board Exam Level)
- English: Beehive, Moments (9), First Flight, Footprints Without Feet (10)
- Hindi: Kshitij, Kritika, Sparsh, Sanchayan (9-10)
- Mathematics: Mathematics (9-10) — 16 chapters in Class 10
- Science: Science (9-10) — 13 chapters in Class 10
- Social Science: History (India & Contemporary World), Geography (Contemporary India), Political Science (Democratic Politics), Economics (Understanding Economic Development)
Class 11-12 (Senior Secondary)
- Physics: Part I & Part II (11-12)
- Chemistry: Part I & Part II (11-12)
- Mathematics: Part I & Part II (11-12)
- Biology: Biology (11-12)
- Accountancy: Part I & Part II (11-12)
- Business Studies: Part I & Part II (11-12)
- Economics: Indian Economic Development, Statistics for Economics (11), Introductory Microeconomics, Introductory Macroeconomics (12)
- History: Themes in Indian History Part I, II, III (12)
- Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work, Political Theory (11), Contemporary World Politics, Politics in India Since Independence (12)
- Geography: Fundamentals of Physical Geography, India — Physical Environment (11), Fundamentals of Human Geography, India — People and Economy (12)
- English: Hornbill, Snapshots (11), Flamingo, Vistas (12)
NCERT Solutions — Where to Find Them Free
NCERT doesn't publish official solutions, but several trusted platforms offer free, verified solutions for all classes and subjects:
- Vedantu (vedantu.com) — Free NCERT solutions PDF for Class 6-12, all subjects
- BYJU'S (byjus.com) — Chapter-wise NCERT solutions with explanations
- Tiwari Academy (tiwariacademy.com) — Free NCERT solutions in Hindi and English
- Doubtnut (doubtnut.com) — Video solutions for NCERT questions
- MathonGo (mathongo.com) — Specifically for Maths NCERT solutions
Why NCERT Books Are Enough for Board Exams
CBSE board exams — which approximately 45 lakh students take each year — are based almost entirely on NCERT:
- 90%+ of board exam questions come directly from NCERT textbook content
- CBSE sample papers (released annually at cbseacademic.nic.in) are based on NCERT syllabus
- Marking schemes reward NCERT-style answers and terminology
- Board toppers consistently recommend mastering NCERT before touching reference books
NCERT for Competitive Exams
JEE Main & Advanced
NCERT Physics, Chemistry, and Maths (Class 11-12) are the foundation for JEE. NTA (National Testing Agency) has confirmed that JEE questions are based on the NCERT syllabus. Start with NCERT, then move to advanced books like H.C. Verma and Cengage.
NEET
NEET questions — especially in Biology — are directly from NCERT lines. Over 20 lakh NEET aspirants rely on NCERT Biology (Class 11-12) as their primary source.
UPSC
NCERT books for Class 6-12 in History, Geography, Polity, Economics, and Science are the recommended starting point for UPSC Civil Services preparation. Every IAS topper's booklist begins with NCERT.
Physical NCERT Books — New vs Used Prices
While PDFs are free, many students prefer physical books for studying. Here's what they cost:
- Class 10 full set (8-10 books): ₹800-1,200 new | ₹350-550 used on BookBazaar
- Class 12 Science full set (10-12 books): ₹1,200-1,800 new | ₹500-800 used
- Class 12 Commerce full set: ₹1,000-1,500 new | ₹400-650 used
- Class 6-12 complete set (UPSC prep): ₹4,000-6,000 new | ₹1,500-2,500 used
Buy used NCERT books on BookBazaar — they're the most commonly listed books on the platform. Check our detailed guide on buying second-hand NCERT books.
2025-26 NCERT Edition Updates
NCERT occasionally revises its textbooks. For the 2025-26 session (source: Tiwari Academy):
- Class 3: New Environmental Studies textbook introduced
- Class 6: Updated content in Science and Social Science under NEP 2020
- Class 11-12: Minor factual updates in Economics (budget data), rest unchanged
- Most subjects: Core content same as previous editions — used books from 2023+ are fine
Pro tip: Before buying used, compare the table of contents with the free PDF on ncert.nic.in to check for any chapter changes.