In a recent development, the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) revised its Class 12 political science textbook. References to topics such as the Babri Masjid demolition, Ram Janambhoomi, the politics of Hindutva, the 2002 Gujarat riots, and minority concerns have been omitted from certain sections of the textbook, reported Hindustan Times.
The updated political science textbook for class 12 is another addition to the expanding list of recent modifications and adjustments to textbooks covering contentious subjects.
These changes are part of the NCERT’s ongoing rationalisation of school textbooks for the 2024-25 academic year, which was recently communicated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
The revisions, particularly in Chapter 8 -“Recent Developments in Indian Politics” of the textbook “Politics in India since Independence,” are noteworthy.
The Ayodhya agitation, including the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, received little attention. The original question, “What is the legacy of the Ram Janambhoomi movement and the Ayodhya demolition for the nature of political mobilisation?” has been rephrased to “What is the legacy of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement?” According to the Hindustan Times, NCERT’s rationale was to tie together the questions with internal revisions made to the chapter.
In addition, this chapter has been edited to exclude any mention of the Babri Masjid and the politics of Hindutva. Similarly, in Chapter 5 titled ‘Democratic Rights’, a reference to the Gujarat riots has been omitted from the caption to a news collage.
Also Read: NCERT Revises Parts of Class 12 History Textbook Amidst Harappan DNA Study Revelations: Reports
This recent revision is not an isolated incident but part of a series of changes to NCERT textbooks for Class 12. Just earlier this week, reports emerged of NCERT revising the history textbook tailored for Class 12 students, particularly focusing on the emergence and decline of the Harappan civilisation. The council has included three new paragraphs addressing the current DNA inquiry in Rakhigarhi in the chapter titled “Bricks, Beads, and Bones – The Harappan Civilisation,” within the ‘Themes in India History Part-I’ textbook.
Furthermore, NCERT’s rationalisation process, leading to textbook reprints in 2022-23, saw the omission of sections on figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, the RSS, Nathuram Godse, and certain historical events from the reprinted political science, history, and sociology textbooks for Classes 11 and 12. These changes reflect the ongoing efforts to streamline educational content and ensure its relevance in contemporary contexts.
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