Historical Figures Featured "Contextually": Govt Defends NCERT Textbook Changes

New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Education Ministry informed the Parliament that personalities were featured in the new NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook contextually and in accordance with curricular objectives.

Recently, the newly released textbook came under scrutiny for the removal of key historical figures like Tipu Sultan, Haidar Ali as well as omitting the four Anglo–Mysore Wars from its chapter on colonial rule.

Also Read | What Is Bihar STET 2025 Protest And Why Is #ReleaseSTET Trending?

Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary shared this information in response to the unstarred question raised by Rajya MP Ritabrata Banerjee.

The Class VIII Social Science textbook (Part I) has been developed in alignment with the curricular goals and competencies given under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, the Minister said.

The new social science textbook integrates four themes and features historical figures based on the context and curriculum goals.

“This new textbook is an integrated Social Science resource, comprising four themes: (1) “India and the World: Land and the People”; (2) “Tapestry of the Past”; (3) “Governance and Democracy”; and (4) “Economic Life Around Us”. Personalities featured in these themes have been included contextually and in accordance with curricular objectives,” the Minister explained.

Chaudhary further highlighted that because education falls under the Constitution’s Concurrent List and the majority of schools are under the jurisdiction of State Governments, the respective State Governments “may adopt or adapt” NCERT textbooks or “develop their own” based on the National Curriculum Framework.

Also Read | IIT Bombay Study Shows Fragmented Forest Accounting Is Crucial For Effective Afforestation Planning

“The States have flexibility to provide more coverage about regional personalities and events in their textbooks,” the Minister added.