NEW DELHI: The new Class 8 Social Science textbook released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has drawn attention for omitting references to Tipu Sultan, Haidar Ali, and the Anglo-Mysore wars of the 1700s. In response to questions raised in Parliament, the Union government clarified that states have the flexibility to include more extensive coverage of regional personalities and events in their own textbooks.Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary explained that education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution. This means that while the NCERT provides a national framework, most schools are governed by state governments, which may adopt, adapt, or develop textbooks according to the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). “The respective State Government may adopt or adapt NCERT textbooks or develop their own textbooks based on the National Curriculum Framework. The states have flexibility to provide more coverage about regional personalities and events in their textbooks,” the Minister said, as reported by the PTI.NCERT forms expert committee to review textbook feedbackFollowing feedback about the new textbooks aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the NCERT has constituted an expert committee to examine the content in question. Officials confirmed the formation of this panel on August 7 but did not specify which particular textbooks will be reviewed.A senior NCERT official told the PTI, “As a follow-up to NEP 2020, NCERT has brought out the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education. Aligned with the curricular goals and competencies as given in the NCFs, NCERT has brought out teaching-learning material, including textbooks. These curricular resources, including textbooks, receive regular feedback and suggestions from various stakeholders.“The official further added, “At present, NCERT has received feedback about the educational content in a few textbooks. Hence a committee is being constituted having senior experts, as per its established practice. This committee will examine the feedback in light of the available evidences and submit its report at the earliest possible.”How the committee functions and states’ role in curriculum designThe expert committee comprises high-level domain specialists from reputed institutions and faculty members from relevant subject areas. The convenor of the committee is the head of the curriculum department at NCERT. As reported by the PTI, “The committee carefully deliberates on the matter, makes evidence-based decisions regarding the content or pedagogy, and recommends appropriate actions accordingly at the earliest.“The committee’s formation follows a well-established NCERT practice where significant feedback or suggestions about content or pedagogy in textbooks lead to expert review and subsequent recommendations.The newly introduced Class 8 textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, has been in the spotlight for its portrayal of historical figures. The textbook describes Akbar’s regime as a blend of “brutality” and “tolerance,” Babur as a “ruthless conqueror,” and Aurangzeb as a “military ruler” who reimposed taxes on non-Muslims, according to the PTI.The book marks the first time the new NCERT curriculum has introduced students to the Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Marathas, and the colonial era entirely in Class 8, a shift from earlier versions where some of these topics were covered in Class 7. This change aligns with the recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023.
The Centre’s clarification highlights the collaborative nature of India’s education system, where state governments play a significant role in shaping textbook content in accordance with local history and priorities.The expert committee’s findings are awaited, which will determine if further changes or additions are recommended for the NCERT textbooks to balance national framework guidelines with regional historical perspectives.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
