New NCERT Textbooks 2025: Maths Mela, Santoor, Veena, Our Wondrous World - Complete Parent Guide

If your child is in Class 3, 4, or 5 in a CBSE school, you have probably noticed that the textbooks look completely different from what older siblings used. That is because NCERT replaced the entire set of primary school textbooks in 2025, following the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.

This guide explains what changed, what the new books cover, and how parents can support their children through this transition.

What Changed and Why

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 mandated a comprehensive overhaul of Indian school education. The NCF-SE 2023, which is the detailed curriculum framework implementing NEP 2020, led to the creation of entirely new textbooks for the Preparatory Stage (Classes 3 to 5).

The old textbooks that your older children might have used are no longer valid:

These are not minor revisions. They are completely new books with new chapter names, new content organization, and a new pedagogical approach.

Maths Mela: The New Maths Textbook

Maths Mela replaces Math Magic for Classes 3 to 5. The biggest change is the approach: instead of traditional topic-based chapters (Addition, Fractions, Geometry), the new book uses real-life contexts to teach mathematical concepts.

For Class 5, the 15 chapters include names like "We the Travellers," "The Dairy Farm," "Coconut Farm," and "Grandmother's Quilt." Each chapter uses a story or real-world scenario to introduce and explore mathematical concepts.

"We the Travellers" teaches number patterns and distances through a travel context. "The Dairy Farm" covers multiplication and division through farm-related problems. "Grandmother's Quilt" introduces area concepts through patterns and grids.

This approach is backed by educational research showing that children learn maths better when they can connect it to their daily lives. However, it can confuse parents who expect chapter titles like "Fractions" or "Decimals."

What parents should know: the mathematical content is the same. Your child is still learning fractions, geometry, measurement, and data handling. The packaging is different, not the substance.

Santoor: The New English Textbook

Santoor replaces Marigold for English. Named after the Indian string instrument, it organizes content into thematic units rather than numbered chapters. For Class 5, there are 5 units with 2 chapters each (10 chapters total).

The units cover themes like "Let's Have Fun," "My Colourful World," "Water," "Ups and Downs," and "Work is Worship." Each unit combines a prose story and a poem, with grammar and vocabulary integrated into the reading activities.

The most significant change: grammar is no longer taught as separate chapters. There is no standalone "Nouns" or "Tenses" chapter. Instead, grammar concepts are woven into each unit's activities. This follows the NCF 2023 philosophy that language skills are best learned through use, not memorization of rules.

For parents concerned about grammar: your child is still learning the same grammar topics (nouns, pronouns, verbs, tenses, articles, prepositions). The learning happens through the stories and exercises rather than through explicit grammar chapters. If your school also uses a separate grammar workbook from a publisher, that provides the structured practice.

Veena: The New Hindi Textbook

Veena replaces Rimjhim for Hindi. With 12 chapters drawn from Indian prose, poetry, and storytelling traditions, it follows the same philosophy as Santoor: grammar is embedded within the literary content.

The chapters include stories, poems, and cultural narratives that expose children to diverse forms of Hindi literature. Grammar concepts (noun forms, verb tenses, punctuation, sentence construction) are practiced through activities connected to each chapter's text.

Our Wondrous World: The New EVS/Science Book

This is the biggest structural change. "Our Wondrous World" replaces "Looking Around" and is organized into 5 units with 10 chapters:

• Unit 1 (Life Around Us): Water and rivers
• Unit 2 (Health and Well-being): Food and school
• Unit 3 (Incredible India): Country and unique places
• Unit 4 (Things Around Us): Energy and clothes
• Unit 5 (Our Amazing Planet): Nature and Earth

Important: this is NOT the same as the old EVS. The subject area is now called "The World Around Us" under the NCF 2023 framework. It combines science, environment, social studies, and geography into one integrated subject.

Some CBSE schools also use separate Science and Social Studies books from private publishers in addition to the NCERT book. Check with your school to understand which books are prescribed.

How to Help Your Child Adapt

1. Do not buy old guides

Any reference book or guide based on Math Magic, Marigold, Rimjhim, or Looking Around is outdated. Make sure supplementary materials reference the new book names.

2. Embrace the story-based approach

When your child says "we are learning about a dairy farm in Maths," they are learning multiplication and division. Ask them what mathematical concepts the chapter covers, not just what the story is about.

3. Use digital tools that follow the new syllabus

Padhaao's catalog for Class 3-5 CBSE is already updated to match the new NCERT textbooks. All 10 chapters of Santoor, all 15 chapters of Maths Mela, all 12 chapters of Veena, and all 10 chapters of Our Wondrous World are covered with lecture, quiz, flashcard, and other learning modes.

4. Do not panic about grammar

Your child is learning grammar. The method is different (through stories instead of rules-first), but the outcome is the same. If you want structured grammar practice, look for a supplementary English Grammar workbook or use an AI tutor with a dedicated English Grammar subject.

5. Connect with the teacher

If you are unsure about what your child should know from a particular chapter, ask the class teacher. They have been trained on the new curriculum and can clarify what is expected.

The Bigger Picture

These new textbooks represent India's most significant primary education reform in decades. The shift from rote-based learning to conceptual, activity-based learning is designed to produce students who understand rather than memorize.

The transition may feel confusing now, especially for parents who grew up with a very different textbook style. But the direction is right. Countries with the highest educational outcomes (Finland, Singapore, Japan) all use approaches similar to what NCF 2023 is introducing.

Give your child time to adjust. Give yourself time to adjust. And remember: the goal of education has not changed. We still want our children to understand, think, and apply what they learn. The new books are just a better vehicle for getting there.