NCERT Class 10 English First Flight Book PDF (2026-27) – Free Download

The NCERT class 10 english First Flight book PDF bundles two official readers — First Flight and Footprints Without Feet — into one board-exam-year book; this ncert class 10 english book pdf covers every chapter below.

What’s in the Class 10 English NCERT Book (2026-27 Edition)

First Flight carries the core prose and poetry, including A Letter to God, Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Glimpses of India; Footprints Without Feet is the supplementary reader, made up entirely of short stories such as The Thief’s Story, The Midnight Visitor and The Necklace, read mainly for comprehension.

Study Tip

First Flight’s poems (like Amanda! and Fire and Ice) carry disproportionate marks for their length — do not skip poetry analysis practice just because the prose chapters feel more substantial.

Use the download button above to access this book on the official NCERT source.

Chapters in This Book

Chapter links on this page were last automatically re-checked against the official NCERT source on August 12, 2026.

All 20 chapters below link directly to the official NCERT source (ncert.nic.in) — nothing is hosted on this site. Click “Read” to open a chapter, or “Download” to save it. You can also open the full book in our chapter-by-chapter reader.

Prefer the whole book at once? Download First Flight (ZIP) Download Footprints Without Feet (ZIP)

Why First Flight and Footprints Matter for Boards

English is compulsory in the CBSE Class 10 board exam, and the literature section built on these two books carries a substantial share of marks through short-answer, long-answer, and extract-based questions. Prose chapters are frequently used for value-based and character-analysis questions, while the poems in First Flight are tested through extract-based questions on tone and meaning. Footprints Without Feet stories, being plot-twist driven, are commonly asked as “why did the character do this” questions that reward students who can explain motive and consequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the current 2026-27 NCERT edition?
Yes — every chapter linked above is pulled directly from the official NCERT source at ncert.nic.in, so it always reflects whatever NCERT currently has published for Class 10 English for the 2026-27 academic session.

Why does this book matter for board exams?
Class 10 is a CBSE board exam year, so this book’s chapters form the direct basis for the board syllabus. Downloading the official version (rather than a summarized or third-party copy) ensures you’re studying from the exact source the exam is set against.

More Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between First Flight and Footprints Without Feet?
First Flight is the main Class 10 English textbook containing prose essays, memoirs, and poetry, and is compulsory for all students. Footprints Without Feet is a supplementary reader made up of short, plot-driven stories also examined alongside First Flight.

How many chapters are there in Class 10 English First Flight and Footprints Without Feet?
First Flight has 9 prose chapters, each paired with poems. Footprints Without Feet has 9 short story chapters. Together, the two books contain 18 chapters.

Do poems or prose carry more weightage in the Class 10 English board exam?
Both prose and poetry from First Flight are tested through extract-based and short/long-answer questions; students should be equally comfortable with both, since either can appear in the paper.

Should I use the NCERT textbook or other publishers guides for Class 10 English?
The NCERT textbook is the source from which CBSE sets board exam questions, so First Flight and Footprints Without Feet themselves should be your primary study material.

What is the best way to study literature chapters from these books?
Read each chapter for the storyline first, then note the central theme, key characters, and any message the chapter conveys, and practice past extract-based and short-answer questions.