Govt defends dropping Tipu Sultan, Razia Sultan from NCERT textbooks, cites 'curricular objectives'
New Delhi: The Union government has defended its decision to exclude historical figures such as Tipu Sultan, Razia Sultan, and Nur Jahan from the Class 8 history textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), citing alignment with curricular objectives.
Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary, responding to a written question in Parliament from Trinamool Congress MP Ritabrata Banerjee, stated that the objective of textbooks for Classes 6 to 8 is “to provide a broad survey of Indian civilisation from the pre-historic times till Independence.” He said the inclusion of personalities in the textbooks has been done "contextually and in accordance with curricular objectives."
The government came under fire from educators and academics last month after the release of the new Class 8 social science textbook for the ongoing academic year. Critics pointed out the removal of key historical figures and events, including Tipu Sultan, Haider Ali, the four Anglo-Mysore wars, Razia Sultan, and Nur Jahan.
Chaudhary clarified that the revised textbook is an integrated social science resource divided into four themes: India and the World: Land and the People; Tapestry of the Past; Governance and Democracy; and Economic Life Around Us. “Personalities featured in these themes have been included contextually and in accordance with curricular objectives,” he said, adding that the new textbook also incorporates updated pedagogical methods and emphasizes focused syllabus delivery and improved classroom practices.
In response to concerns over the exclusion of prominent Muslim rulers and key historical events, the minister said that Tapestry of the Past includes women leaders like Rani Durgavati, Ahilyabai Holkar, Rani Abbakka I, and Begum Hazrat Mahal.
Chaudhary also reminded Parliament that education is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution. “The respective state governments may adopt or adapt NCERT textbooks or develop their own textbooks based on the National Curriculum Framework. The states have the flexibility to provide more coverage about regional personalities and events in their textbooks,” he said.
Earlier versions of the Class 7 textbook included detailed sections on the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. However, the new Class 7 book now ends before the 12th century, shifting much of that content to the first part of the new Class 8 textbook, albeit with notable omissions.
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Gujarat voted for development & good governance, says Pradhan as BJP sweeps local body polls
New Delhi (PTI): Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said the people of Gujarat have reaffirmed their faith in the politics of development, stability and good governance as the BJP swept the local body elections by winning all 15 municipal corporations and 33 out of 34 district panchayats in the state.
Thanking the voters, Pradhan said the result is a testament to the people's unwavering trust in the BJP, the relentless hard work of the party workers and the strength of the organisation under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
“The people of Gujarat have once again made it clear that their trust remains firmly aligned with the politics of development, stability and good governance. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Gujarat for the support received by the BJP in the local body elections,” Pradhan posted on X.
“Under the guidance of the Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, this result is a remarkable testament to the people's unwavering trust, the relentless hard work of the Gujarat BJP workers, and the strength of the organisation,” he added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Gujarat for what he termed a "sweeping mandate" in the local body polls, saying the bond between the state and the BJP has grown even stronger.
Modi said people have voted for the politics of good governance, and assured that the party would work harder to take Gujarat to new heights of progress.
Though final results for 250 taluka panchayats and 84 municipalities were awaited, data from the State Election Commission (SEC) showed that the ruling BJP won most of these local bodies while some were bagged by the Congress, AAP and Independents.
Polling was held on Sunday for 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats.
The BJP emerged a clear winner in the municipal corporations of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Rajkot, besides the newly created municipal corporations of Navsari, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Porbandar and Surendranagar.
