Class 10 syllabus reduction will not remove core textbook portions, says Kerala minister

Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty clarified on Sunday, November 1, 2026, that the proposed 25 percent reduction in the Class 10 syllabus would not result in the removal of core portions from textbooks. The announcement was made in Thiruvananthapuram, addressing concerns that the syllabus reduction could impact academic standards.

The minister had announced the 25 percent reduction in the Class 10 syllabus on Saturday, following concerns raised by school students regarding examination-related stress. This reduction is slated for implementation from the next academic year.

Syllabus Reduction and Academic Standards

Minister Sivankutty emphasized that the exercise of reducing content load is aimed at avoiding repetition and ensuring that only age-appropriate learning content is included at each level. He stated, “Reducing content load does not mean removing core or essential portions of the syllabus. The exercise is aimed at avoiding repetition and ensuring that only age-appropriate learning content is included at each level.”

The minister further confirmed that changes to the syllabus will be implemented only on the basis of study reports prepared by committees comprising expert teachers and educationists. This scientific approach will also be adopted while reviewing SSLC-level syllabi, aligning with the government’s stated policy of reducing examination-related stress among students.

Kerala’s Stance on NCERT Curriculum Changes

The Kerala government previously took a decision to restore chapters removed by the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) from Class 11 and 12 textbooks. These removed NCERT topics included the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the Gujarat riots, the period of emergency, the ban on RSS, Mughal history, the industrial revolution, and post-independent India’s history, including five-year plans.

Kerala is the only state to compile all portions avoided by the NCERT from school textbooks and create new supplementary textbooks for students. The State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) curriculum steering committee decided to include these deleted NCERT portions in the state syllabus. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated these supplementary books on August 23 at the Cotton Hill School of Thiruvananthapuram, allowing students to study and take exams on the compiled syllabus. Minister Sivankutty stated that while NCERT cited academic load reduction, there were “vested interests behind such an act.”

Context of National Education Policy and Curriculum Reform

The NCERT had ‘rationalised’ its syllabus in June last year, removing references to the 2002 communal violence from Class 11 sociology and two Class 12 textbooks, among other deletions. NCERT Chief Dinesh Saklani stated there was no trimming of the curriculum this year. Kerala uses 44 NCERT textbooks, with significant content changes in subjects like history, political science, economics, and sociology at the higher-secondary level.

The Kerala government’s decision to compile deleted NCERT portions was in accordance with the state’s educational background. This action also comes when you look at the National Education Policy 2023 not being completely accepted across the country, with Tamil Nadu rejecting it entirely and Karnataka agreeing to roll out some portions.

Further reading

• Odisha CHSE Class 12 science syllabus 2027 released: what changes for aspirants
• CBSE Class 10 Physics syllabus 2027 released: 25 marks, 4 chapters
• ALLEN TALLENTEX syllabus and exam pattern for Class 5 released for 2027–27 session
• Allen TALLENTEX 2026 class 7 syllabus and exam pattern released
• CBSE Class 10, 12 Board Exam 2027 date sheet expected soon; Kerala SSLC timetable released

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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