Maharashtra Board Books for Class 1

Which Books Are Prescribed for Class 1 in the Maharashtra State Board?

Class 1 in the Maharashtra State Board has four core subjects: Marathi, English, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies (EVS). Your child needs one set of books for these four subjects, and the set is decided by the medium of instruction in the school, not by the student's choice.

The official publisher of all state board textbooks is Balbharati (also written as Bal Bharati). Every prescribed book carries the Balbharati name and logo on the cover. If a book does not show it, treat that book as supplementary and check with the school before buying it.

EVS is the subject parents find most confusing, because it is not one book but three linked components:

• Play (Khel): games, songs and group activities that introduce a theme such as family, plants or water.
• Work (Kaam): drawing, colouring, matching and cut-and-paste tasks that the child completes in the book itself.
• Textbook (Pathyapustak): short reading passages and pictures that explain the same theme in simple language.

A typical EVS lesson runs through all three: the teacher starts with a play activity, the child does the matching or drawing task in the work book, and then reads the two or three lines in the textbook. All three books are needed together, so do not buy only the textbook.

The exact list can differ slightly from one medium to another, and Balbharati sometimes adds or renames a title between editions. Before you buy the full set, match your school's book list against the current list on the official Balbharati site [verify]. For a subject-by-subject view of what each book covers, see the Maharashtra Board Class 1 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics and Activities.

Subject-Wise List of Balbharati Class 1 Textbooks

Book titles change a little between editions, and the Marathi-medium and English-medium sets do not always use the same wording on the cover. The titles below are the ones commonly printed on Balbharati Class 1 books [verify]. Match the cover in your hand with the current list on the Balbharati site before you buy the full set.

Marathi

The Marathi book is usually titled Marathi Balbharati (मराठी बालभारती) for the Marathi medium, and Marathi or Marathi Sulabhbharati for children in other mediums who learn Marathi as a second language [verify]. It opens with oral work, then moves to letter recognition (barakhadi), and only after that to joining letters into words. A separate Lekhan (writing) notebook is often used alongside it, but that is a school choice, not a board book.

English

The English book is titled English Balbharati [verify]. For most Class 1 children this is the first formal English book, so it begins with pictures, rhymes and listening activities before any writing. Some schools also prescribe a My English Reader type of supplementary reader or a handwriting book; these are school-level additions and are not part of the state board set.

Mathematics

The Mathematics book is titled Mathematics Balbharati (or Ganit in the Marathi medium) [verify]. It is a single book covering pre-number ideas, numbers up to 99, shapes, patterns, comparison and simple addition and subtraction. There is no separate Maths workbook issued by the board at this level; the practice is built into the textbook itself.

Environmental Studies (EVS)

EVS is the one subject with three separate books, and all three must be bought:

• Play (Khel): games, songs and group activities built around a theme such as family, plants, animals or water.
• Work (Kaam): a consumable book where the child draws, colours, matches and pastes. It gets filled up during the year, so a used copy is not usable.
• Textbook (Pathyapustak): short reading passages and pictures that explain the same theme in two or three lines.

A common mistake is buying only the EVS textbook. Without the Work book the child cannot do the written tasks the teacher assigns, and without Play the lesson loses its activity base. Buy all three together.

Some schools add a cursive writing book, a drawing book or a value education booklet. These are not Balbharati Class 1 textbooks and are not needed to follow the board syllabus. If your school's list includes them, buy them, but do not treat them as replacements for the four core sets. To see how each of these books maps to topics through the year, read the Maharashtra Board Class 1 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics and Activities.

Medium Options for Class 1 Textbooks

Maharashtra State Board Class 1 textbooks are printed in four mediums: Marathi, English, Hindi and Urdu [verify]. The word "medium" simply means the language in which your child is taught in class and in which the textbooks are written. A child in the English medium learns all subjects through English books, while a child in the Marathi medium uses Marathi books for the same topics.

Your child's medium of instruction decides the set of books you need to buy. This is the first thing to confirm, because the same subject can look completely different depending on the medium. For example, a Marathi-medium child uses Marathi Balbharati as the main language book, while an English-medium child uses English Balbharati as the main language book and studies Marathi as a second language through Marathi Sulabhbharati [verify]. Buying the wrong set means the child cannot follow the lessons in class.

Mathematics and EVS books are available in more than one language, but the content inside is the same. The numbers, shapes, activities and pictures do not change; only the language of the instructions and labels changes. So a Mathematics Balbharati in English and a Ganit book in Marathi teach the same syllabus, and a child who shifts medium later does not fall behind in Maths or EVS.

Before you buy anything, ask the school two questions:

• Which medium is my child admitted to?
• Which exact books does the school want for this year?

Schools sometimes prescribe extra books such as a handwriting or drawing book, and the medium of those may differ from the board set. Keep the school's written book list with you when you shop, and check the cover language matches your child's medium. If your school has not shared a list, the syllabus page on this site, Maharashtra Board Class 1 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics and Activities, shows which subjects run through the year, so you can match subjects to books.

How to Download Maharashtra Board Class 1 Textbooks as PDF

The state board's textbooks are published by Balbharati, and Balbharati runs an official e-book portal where the same books are available as free PDFs [verify]. You do not need to register, pay, or create an account. The PDF is the full printed book, page for page, so your child can read it on a phone, tablet or computer even before the printed copy reaches you.

Step-by-Step Download Process

1. Open a browser and go to the official Balbharati e-book website, ebalbharati.in [verify]. Type the address yourself instead of tapping a forwarded link, because lookalike sites with similar names often charge money for the same free files.
2. Look for the e-books or textbook download section on the home page.
3. Select the class: choose Class 1 (sometimes shown as "Std. 1" or "इयत्ता पहिली").
4. Select the medium: Marathi, English, Hindi or Urdu. Pick the same medium your child is admitted to, otherwise the words inside will not match the classroom teaching.
5. Select the subject. The list will show the Class 1 titles for that medium.
6. Tap the download button or the book cover. The PDF saves to your device, usually in the Downloads folder.
7. Open the file once to check it is complete, then rename it, for example "Class1_Maths_English", so you can find it later.

Download the books over Wi-Fi if you can. Each PDF is a few megabytes, which is small for a phone but can use up mobile data if you fetch all subjects at once. On a computer, Adobe Reader or any browser opens the file. On a phone, the default file viewer or Google Drive works fine.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• The page loads slowly or the download stalls. The portal gets heavy traffic at the start of the academic year. Try again early morning or late at night, and close other apps using the internet.
• The link opens a blank page. Refresh once, then clear your browser cache. If it still fails, switch from the app browser to Chrome or Firefox.
• The downloaded file will not open. The download probably stopped halfway. Delete the file and download it again; a complete Class 1 book should open without any error message.
• A subject is missing for your medium. Some titles are uploaded later than others [verify]. Check again after a few days, or ask the school which edition they are using.
• You only see one part of a book. Some books are split into parts, so download every part listed under that subject.

If you want the full class-wise picture before downloading, the page How to Download Balbharati E-books for All Classes explains the same steps for other standards, and Maharashtra Board Class 1 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics and Activities tells you which subjects your child will actually study this year, so you download only what is needed.

Where to Buy Printed Class 1 Textbooks

The straightforward place to start is your own school. Many schools run a book counter or tie up with a nearby bookshop that keeps the exact set for each standard, so you get the right medium and the right edition in one visit. Ask at the office which shop they recommend, and take the class and medium name with you, for example "Class 1, English medium".

If the school does not sell books, try these options:

• Local bookshops near the school, especially ones that stock school textbooks every June.
• Balbharati's own book depot or authorised sellers, where you can buy directly from the publisher's stock [verify].
• Online retailers, useful when local shops run out, but check the seller's rating and the delivery date before paying.

Whichever shop you choose, open the book before paying and check two things. First, the Balbharati logo and publisher name on the cover or title page. Second, the edition year printed inside, usually near the front. An old edition may have different page numbers and exercises from what the teacher uses in class.

Avoid loose photocopied bundles and cheap "guide plus textbook" combos sold on footpaths. Photocopies are often incomplete, have faint or missing pages, and sometimes mix pages from two different editions. The board fixes textbook prices, so printed copies cost very little [verify]. If a seller asks for a much higher amount, or refuses to show the price printed on the back cover, walk away and buy elsewhere.

Once your printed set is home, write your child's name inside each book and keep the PDF copies from the e-book portal as a backup for days when a book is left behind. For the full subject list your child will study this year, see Maharashtra Board Class 1 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics and Activities.

Understanding the Class 1 Syllabus Structure

Class 1 is not built around long chapters and heavy writing. The syllabus is activity-based, meaning most learning happens through songs, pictures, games, drawing, talking and doing. The two goals that shape every subject are foundational literacy (reading and writing simple words) and foundational numeracy (counting, comparing and recognising numbers and shapes). If you keep these two goals in mind, the textbook pages stop looking random and start looking like small steps towards them.

Environmental Studies (EVS) is the clearest example of how the syllabus works. It comes in three linked parts: play, work and textbook. The play book gives games and activities, the work book gives drawing, matching and colouring tasks, and the textbook gives short reading and picture-based lessons. A typical EVS topic such as "my family" or "water" starts with a game or a picture talk, moves to a small written task, and ends with a page in the textbook. This is how the syllabus connects school learning to what the child already sees at home.

Mathematics at this stage introduces numbers, shapes and patterns rather than formulas. A child may be asked to count objects and write the numeral, circle the shape that is different, or continue a simple pattern such as a square, circle, square, circle. A common mistake is rushing to written sums before the child can count objects confidently. The fix is simple: let the child touch and count real things (spoons, beads, buttons) before writing the answer in the book.

Marathi and English focus on oral skills first, then alphabet recognition, then simple words. Children are expected to listen, repeat, recognise letters and read small words before writing full sentences. If your child can say a word but not write it yet, that is normal at this stage.

For the topic-wise breakdown of each subject, see Maharashtra Board Class 1 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics and Activities.

How Parents Can Use These Books at Home

Your role at home is not to finish the book. It is to make the child comfortable with it. Ten to fifteen minutes a day, done with interest, is enough for Class 1. Sit beside the child, keep the phone away, and treat the book as something to talk about, not something to complete.

Read aloud, then talk about the picture. Open any textbook page and read the line or word aloud first. Then point to the picture and ask simple questions: "Who is this?", "What is the boy holding?", "How many mangoes can you see?" The child does not need to read the text yet. Listening, pointing and answering is reading practice at this age. In the English and Marathi books, ask the child to repeat the word after you and then find the same letter elsewhere on the page.

Use the EVS play and work books for hands-on activity. The play book gives games and the work book gives drawing, colouring and matching tasks. If the topic is "water", let the child pour water between two glasses and say what changed. If the topic is "my family", ask the child to name family members and draw them in the work book. Do the activity first, then the textbook page. The written page then feels like a record of something the child actually did.

Practise counting with real objects before writing. In the Mathematics book, a typical page asks the child to count objects and write the numeral. Before the pencil touches the page, place buttons or spoons on the table and count them together aloud. Then let the child write the number. A common mistake is helping the child write "7" when they cannot yet count seven objects. The fix is to go back to counting real things for a few more days; the writing will follow.

Talk in the medium of instruction. If your child studies in Marathi, use Marathi for everyday talk at home, even if you mix in English words. Ask about the school day, the food, the weather. Language skills in Class 1 grow from conversation, not from copying words. If the child says a word in the other language, repeat it in the school language and continue the conversation without correction.

Keep sessions short. Stop while the child is still interested, not after they are tired. Two short sittings are better than one long one. If a page feels difficult, leave it and return the next day. For a wider plan on helping with schoolwork at this age, see Parent's Guide to Helping Kids with Homework in Primary School.

Do You Need Guide Books or Workbooks for Class 1?

No. The Balbharati textbooks for Class 1 are designed to be complete on their own. Every lesson already tells the teacher what to do, what to ask, and what the child should be able to do by the end. A separate guide book adds nothing that the textbook does not already contain, and for a six-year-old it creates one more book to carry and one more page to finish.

Guide books for Class 1 usually do one of two things: they give ready-made answers, or they pile on extra written questions. Both work against the child. A child who copies "7" from a guide has not learnt to count seven objects. A child who fills three extra worksheets on the same letter has not learnt it better than the child who found that letter on a shop sign. At this age, confusion is a real risk. A guide may use a different word, a different method, or a different order from the textbook, and the child then has two versions of the same idea to hold in mind.

If your child needs more practice, use what is already in the book:

• The EVS work component has drawing, colouring, matching and tracing tasks that reinforce the same topic as the textbook page.
• The play component gives games you can repeat at home with no writing at all.
• Ask the teacher for simple worksheets made for the class. Teacher-made sheets match the method used in school, which a market guide may not.
• Plain paper and a pencil are enough for letter and number practice. Write one word, ask the child to copy it once, then say it aloud.

Keep the goal clear. In Class 1 the aim is understanding, not finishing pages or memorising answers. If your child can explain a picture in their own words, count real objects correctly, and recognise letters in different places, the textbook has done its job. For the topics each book covers, see Maharashtra Board Class 1 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics and Activities.

Tips for Teachers: Planning Lessons with Balbharati Books

Start each week by reading the play, work and textbook pages for a topic together, not one at a time. The three EVS books are built as a set, and planning them as a set saves you from repeating the same activity twice. A simple weekly plan: play component on Monday (games and talk), textbook page on Tuesday and Wednesday (reading pictures, discussion), work component on Thursday (drawing, matching, tracing), and a short revision on Friday.

Use the play component for group work, not for filling time. If the page asks children to sort objects by shape, give each group a set of bottle caps, leaves and blocks and let them sort on the floor before anyone opens a book. Children who have handled the objects first answer the textbook questions faster and with fewer wrong guesses.

Link EVS topics to language and maths in the same week. A lesson on "my family" can become an English or Marathi oral task (children name family members), a maths task (count the members, draw the correct number of circles), and an EVS drawing task. One topic, three periods, no extra preparation.

Keep home tasks small and spoken. Instead of written homework, send one line in the diary: "Ask your child to count the spoons at dinner" or "Ask your child to name three things that are round." This keeps parents involved without asking them to teach. For more ways to support parents, see Parent's Guide to Helping Kids with Homework in Primary School.

Finally, match your pace to the syllabus topics rather than to the number of pages left. If a topic needs two extra days of play-based practice, take them. The Maharashtra Board Class 1 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics and Activities page lists what must be covered, which helps you decide what can be compressed and what cannot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which books are prescribed for Class 1? Marathi, English, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies (EVS). EVS comes as three linked books: play, work, and textbook.

Are the books available in English medium? Yes. Balbharati prints Class 1 books in Marathi, English, Hindi, and Urdu mediums [verify].

How do I download the PDFs? Visit the official Balbharati e-book site, pick Class 1, then medium and subject. See How to Download Balbharati E-books for All Classes for the full walkthrough.

Where can I buy printed copies? School bookstores, local bookshops, and online sellers. Check for the Balbharati logo and the latest edition.

Which books are prescribed for Class 1 in the Maharashtra State Board?

Class 1 has four core subjects: Marathi, English, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies (EVS). All are published by Balbharati. The exact set depends on your school's medium of instruction, so match the school's book list against the current Balbharati list before buying. EVS alone comes as three linked books: Play, Work, and Textbook.

Are Balbharati Class 1 textbooks available in English medium?

Yes. Balbharati prints Class 1 books for English-medium schools as well as Marathi-medium ones. The subject set stays the same (Marathi, English, Mathematics, EVS), but cover titles and wording can differ between mediums. Confirm the medium printed on the cover matches your child's school before you buy the set.

How can I download Maharashtra Board Class 1 textbooks as PDF?

Balbharati hosts free e-books of its textbooks on its official website. Open the e-books or download section, select Class 1, then pick your medium and subject. Check the edition year shown on the PDF, since Balbharati updates titles between editions [verify]. Download all three EVS components, not just the textbook.

Is there a single textbook for all subjects in Class 1?

No. Each subject has its own book, and EVS is split into three: Play (games and songs), Work (drawing, matching, cut-and-paste tasks done inside the book), and Textbook (short reading passages). A lesson usually moves through all three, so buying only the EVS textbook leaves your child without the activity books.

Where can I buy printed Maharashtra Board Class 1 books?

Printed Balbharati books are sold at the Balbharati sales counter and authorised bookshops, and many school suppliers stock the full set. Check that every cover carries the Balbharati name and logo; if it does not, treat the book as supplementary and confirm with the school before buying. Prices are printed on the book [verify].

Are the Balbharati e-books free to download?

Yes, Balbharati e-books are free to view and download from the official site, so you can check the current titles and edition before buying print copies. The PDFs are the same content as the printed books. If a download link does not open, try the e-books section again later or ask the school for the current list [verify].