{"id":18202,"date":"2025-08-25T14:32:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T09:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/current-affairs\/2025\/08\/25\/ncert-indian-classical-arts-curriculum-classes-3-8\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T12:32:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T12:32:08","slug":"ncert-indian-classical-arts-curriculum-classes-3-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/ncert-indian-classical-arts-curriculum-classes-3-8\/","title":{"rendered":"NCERT Indian Classical Arts Curriculum for Classes 3 to 8"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The NCERT Indian Classical Arts Curriculum aims to introduce students of Classes 3 to 8 to India&#8217;s rich artistic and cultural heritage. The initiative incorporates Indian music, dance, theatre and visual arts into school education in line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NCERT has developed Arts Education textbooks such as Bansuri and Kriti to encourage students to explore different art forms through creative and activity-based learning. These textbooks introduce students to musical concepts, traditional dance forms, storytelling, artistic expressions and regional cultural traditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The main objective is to develop creativity, cultural awareness and appreciation of Indian arts rather than provide professional-level training in music or dance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>News in Brief<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NCERT has introduced dedicated Arts Education textbooks, including Bansuri and Kriti.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The curriculum covers four major areas: Music, Dance, Theatre and Visual Arts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students explore musical concepts such as swar, laya, rhythm and traditional songs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indian classical and regional dance traditions are introduced through age-appropriate activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The initiative promotes creativity, cultural understanding and artistic expression.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>NCERT Bansuri and Kriti Textbooks: Curriculum Structure<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NCERT has developed separate Arts Education textbooks for different stages of school education.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Textbook<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Class\/Stage<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Main Focus<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bansuri<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Preparatory Stage (Classes 3\u20135)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Introduction to music, dance, theatre and visual arts<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kriti<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Middle Stage (Classes 6\u20138)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Creative exploration and understanding of different art forms<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example, Bansuri\u2013I is the Arts textbook for Class 3, while Kriti\u2013I is designed for Grade 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The textbooks are based on the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. They use activities, illustrations, projects and digital resources to make arts education more engaging.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Four Major Components of NCERT Arts Education<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The NCERT curriculum covers four important areas of artistic learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Art Form<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>What Students Explore<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Music<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Songs, musical instruments, rhythm and musical traditions<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dance<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Body movements, gestures, rhythm and dance traditions<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Theatre<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Storytelling, acting, stage performance and expression<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Visual Arts<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drawing, painting, colours, crafts and creative designs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This integrated approach allows students to experience different forms of art instead of studying them only as theoretical subjects.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Indian Classical Music<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students are introduced to the basic elements of Indian music and traditional musical practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some important concepts include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Swar: Musical notes or sounds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Laya: Speed or tempo of music.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Raga: A melodic framework in Indian classical music.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Taal: A rhythmic cycle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shabd: Words used in songs and musical compositions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shloka: A traditional Sanskrit verse.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students also explore traditional songs, musical instruments and music from different regions of India.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The objective is to develop an understanding of musical expression and India&#8217;s diverse musical heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Indian Classical Dance Forms<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The curriculum introduces students to major Indian classical dance traditions and their cultural significance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The eight major classical dance forms of India are:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Classical Dance Form<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Associated State or Region<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bharatanatyam<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tamil Nadu<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kathak<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">North India<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kathakali<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kerala<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kuchipudi<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Andhra Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Manipuri<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Manipur<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mohiniyattam<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kerala<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Odissi<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Odisha<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sattriya<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Assam<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Theatre and Traditional Storytelling<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Theatre education introduces students to the art of storytelling and stage performance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Activities may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Storytelling through words and expressions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Acting and role-playing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Improvisation and creative performance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Understanding characters and situations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Participating in group performances.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These activities encourage students to communicate confidently and express their ideas creatively.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Visual Arts<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Visual Arts help students express their imagination through different materials and techniques.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students explore activities such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drawing and painting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Colour mixing and pattern creation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paper crafts and creative designs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Exploring traditional Indian art forms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Making artistic projects using different materials.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The objective is to improve observation, imagination and creative thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Ancient Indian Texts and Traditional Knowledge<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indian art and performing traditions have developed through centuries of cultural and intellectual contributions. Several traditional Sanskrit texts are associated with music, dance, theatre and artistic expression.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Important examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Ancient Text<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Associated Subject<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Natyashastra<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drama, dance, music and performing arts<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Brihaddeshi<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indian music and musical traditions<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sangita Damodara<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Music and performing arts<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Abhinaya Darpanam<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dance expressions, gestures and movements<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><b>Natyashastra<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Traditionally attributed to Bharata Muni, the Natyashastra is an important Sanskrit treatise on Indian performing arts. It discusses drama, dance, music, expressions and stage performance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Brihaddeshi<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Traditionally associated with Matanga Muni, Brihaddeshi is an important text in the history of Indian music and musical traditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Sangita Damodara<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sangita Damodara is a traditional work associated with music and performing arts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Abhinaya Darpanam<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Traditionally attributed to Nandikeshwara, Abhinaya Darpanam discusses dance expressions, body movements and hand gestures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These traditional knowledge sources help explain the historical foundations of India&#8217;s artistic traditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Teaching Approach: Learning Through Activities<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The NCERT Arts Education curriculum focuses on experiential and activity-based learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Instead of limiting students to textbook explanations, it encourages participation in practical activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Abhinaya: Expressing emotions through facial expressions and body language.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hasta Mudras: Exploring hand gestures used in Indian dance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Storytelling: Communicating stories through words, movements and expressions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dance Movements: Learning basic steps, postures, jumps and rhythmic movements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Music Activities: Singing songs and understanding beats and rhythm.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Creative Projects: Combining music, theatre, dance and visual arts in group activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This approach helps students develop creativity, confidence, communication and teamwork.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Role of NEP 2020 in Arts Education<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The National Education Policy 2020 promotes holistic and multidisciplinary education. It emphasises connecting classroom learning with India&#8217;s cultural heritage, knowledge systems and creative traditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 further provides the curricular direction for Arts Education.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The NCERT textbooks reflect this approach by including music, theatre, dance and visual arts as important areas of learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For instance, the Bansuri\u2013I textbook for Class 3 explains that Arts Education includes these four components and recommends dedicated learning time for them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Benefits of Introducing Indian Classical Arts in Schools<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The inclusion of Indian arts in school education can provide several educational and cultural benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Cultural Awareness: Students become familiar with India&#8217;s classical and regional art traditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Creativity: Music, dance, theatre and visual arts encourage imagination and creative thinking.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Communication Skills: Storytelling and performances help students express their thoughts and emotions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Understanding Heritage: Students learn about traditional art forms and India&#8217;s cultural history.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Teamwork: Group projects and performances promote cooperation and collaboration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Holistic Development: Artistic activities support emotional, social and creative development alongside academic learning.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The NCERT Indian Classical Arts Curriculum is an important step towards integrating India&#8217;s artistic heritage into school education. Through textbooks such as Bansuri and Kriti, students get opportunities to explore music, dance, theatre and visual arts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aligned with NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, the initiative promotes creativity, cultural awareness and experiential learning. Its primary aim is to help students appreciate India&#8217;s diverse artistic traditions while supporting their overall development.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a bid to reorient Classes 3 through 8 with new textbooks, the Indian ethos aligns to the commitments of the National Education Policy and includes Indian classical music, dance, theatre and visual arts. The new curriculum, Bansuri (Classes 335), and Kriti (Classes 68), introduce the students to swar, laya, ragas, taals, and traditional storytelling. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":23268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18202"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28934,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18202\/revisions\/28934"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}