Before the introduction of the National Education Policy in 2020 and accompanying textbooks, the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) published and prescribed the textbook series Marigold for primary school English instruction.
Marigold showcases a cursive writing sample based on the Vere Foster Civil Service Hand, which was created in Britain in the 1860s by Irish-born diplomat, Vere Foster, and remained popular there for almost a century. The book does not specify who designed the letterforms presented in it, and only a DTP operator, Ritu Sharma, is acknowledged.
Print style handwriting worksheet from Marigold, NCERT textbook for Grade 1
After learning print-style letters in grade 1, students are introduced to cursive writing in grade 2. The cursive letters have a slanted continuous cursive style with Anglo-European influence, and feature extenders equal in length to the x-height. They are based on narrow, elliptical shapes, and have a appreciable slope. The uppercase letters are ornate and traditional.
