April 28, 2025, New Delhi
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has made significant alterations to its textbooks. The board dropped the subject of the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate from the syllabus. New chapters have been incorporated in place of them, on topics such as the Kumbh Mela, ancient Indian kingdoms, government initiatives such as “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,” and sacred geography. These new developments were introduced in the Class 7 textbooks in line with the new National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, which focus on Indian traditions and knowledge systems.
There have been huge changes in the Class 7 Social Science book named Exploring Society: India and Beyond. Previously, students studied in detail about the rulers such as the Khilji, Tughlaq, and Lodi dynasties. Now, all this material has been removed. Details about the achievements of the Mughal emperors have also been erased.
The new Class 7 curriculum now incorporates ancient Indian dynasties like the Mauryas, Magadha, Satavahanas, and Shungas. A new chapter titled How the Land Became Sacred has been introduced, which discusses holy sites and pilgrimages like the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Char Dham Yatra, and Shakti Peethas. The Kumbh Mela is also mentioned, stating that 66 crore people have attended over the years. The risks like stampedes during Kumbh Mela are not discussed.
The new books also contain details regarding government schemes such as “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,” “Make in India,” and the “Atal Tunnel.” Until now, only half of the new book has been published, and the second half is to be released soon. NCERT officials have not explained if the deleted content will be included in the second part.
The motive of the changes in NCERT is to place more emphasis on India’s tradition, philosophy, and cultural identity so that Indian students learn about India’s past. Some, though, accuse the change, citing that it is turning a blind eye towards a significant component of history. The opposition parties have also decried the change, calling it an “act of saffronization” of education. They assert that deleting the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate disempowers India’s inclusive history.
NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani had explained last year in an interview that imparting education about violence and riots would turn the children into negative citizens.
By deleting chapters on the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals and including material on ancient dynasties, the Kumbh Mela, and government schemes, NCERT has made a drastic but contentious move. While students will be taught more about Indian customs and ongoing schemes, there is fear that significant aspects of history are being ignored.
