Working social science teachers and teacher educators now have a fresh chance to train as textbook makers. NCERT has opened applications for its Six-month Certificate Programme on Developing Social Science Textbooks and Other Curricular Materials, which runs from September 2026 to February 2027. The window to send details closes on 20 September 2026, and applications go through a single Google Form.
The programme is run by the Department of Education in Social Sciences (DESS) at NCERT, New Delhi. It sets out to build a pool of trained people who can write and design school social science textbooks and other learning materials, work that most curricular developers in India currently pick up on the job.
Who can apply for the NCERT social science textbook certificate programme
This course is meant only for working social science teachers and teacher educators who deal with curriculum development at the district, state, or national level. The eligibility conditions are specific:
- Candidates should have studied Social Sciences at Graduate or Master’s level.
- Teachers working in schools, colleges, and universities teaching a social science course need a minimum of two years’ experience.
- Teacher educators in District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) or SCERTs need a minimum of five years of teaching, research, or development experience in the field of Social Sciences.
How to apply and key dates
Interested teachers must share their details through the Google Form at https://surl.li/zcogiq. Candidates get shortlisted on various criteria, and online interviews may be held if needed. NCERT will write to the selected candidate’s institution, DIET, or SCERT for deputation to attend all three phases, including the face-to-face part.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Last date to send details | 20 September 2026 |
| Phase 1 (online) | September/October 2026 |
| Phase 2 (face-to-face) | November/December 2026 |
| Phase 3 (online) | January/February 2027 |
| Queries email | dess.training@ciet.nic.in |
What the course covers
The programme carries four courses, each worth 5 credits, adding up to 20 credits. The four courses are:
- School Social Science Education: Building Perspectives
- Epistemology and Social Sciences
- Development of Curricular Resources and Pedagogic Concerns
- Learning and Assessment in Social Sciences
Teaching happens through interactive methods, with soft copies of the reading material shared with participants. Faculty from NCERT, along with module developers, teach and mentor the course, and social science textbook writers from states and other agencies deliver special lectures.
During the six months, participants submit assignments: essays, summaries, textbook analysis, draft chapters, worksheets, model question papers, classroom research, posters, and more. Certification rests on portfolio assessment, which counts participation, the assignments, end-of-course examinations, and presentations. NCERT calls the programme part of the Government of India’s Skill Development push in school education.
Teachers who fit the eligibility should fill the form well before 20 September 2026, since NCERT needs time to write to institutions for deputation.