“Removal Of The Babri Masjid Demolition References Is According To The Latest Development In Politics..”, NCERT
Under the NCERT textbook revision project for the 2024–2025 shared with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Class 12 political science textbook has been revised.
According to reports, a chapter in NCERT”s Class 12 political science textbook on the Ayodhya dispute has been revised to prioritise the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, take into account the 2019 Supreme Court ruling allowing the temple, and remove references to the December 6, 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid.
The Ayodhya movement is listed as one of the five main “recent developments” in Indian politics in the eighth chapter of the book “Politics in India since Independence,” which was published in 2006–07.
Rationalization of the NCERT textbooks changes
The NCERT said on its website, “Content is updated as per latest development in politics. Text on Ayodhya issue has been thoroughly revised because of the latest changes brought by Supreme Court’s Constitutional bench verdict and its widespread welcoming reception”.
This is the fourth round of revision and updating of NCERT textbooks since 2014 to line up with the need to update the textbooks to underscore the recent events and changes. According to the education ministry, the revision rounds are done to rationalize textbooks and to reduce the burden on students.
The claimed objectives of this most recent effort were to lighten the curriculum further and help children recover from the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on their learning.
What changes has NCERT made?
Change 1
Old textbook: “…A number of events culminated in the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya (known as Babri Masjid) in December 1992. This event symbolized and triggered various changes in the politics of the country and intensified debates about the nature of Indian nationalism and secularism. These developments are associated with the rise of the BJP and the politics of ‘Hindutva’.”
New textbook: “… the centuries-old legal and political dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya started influencing the politics of India which gave birth to various political changes. The Ram Janambhoomi Temple Movement, becoming the central issue, transformed the direction of the discourse on secularism and democracy. These changes culminated in the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya following the decision of the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court (which was announced on November 9, 2019).”
Change 2
Old textbook Summary: “What is the legacy of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the Ayodhya demolition for the nature of political mobilization?”
New textbook Summary: Replaced with “What is the legacy of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement?”
Change 3
Old book’s exercise section: “The demolition of Babri Masjid” is one of six political events that have to be arranged in chronological order.
New textbook exercise section: Replaced with “Supreme Court Judgement on the Ram Janmabhoomi.”
