In a move that has sparked widespread controversy, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced sweeping changes to school textbooks, intensifying concerns over the saffronisation of education in India. The newly revised textbooks notably eliminate key content related to the Mughal era and the Delhi Sultanate, while placing greater emphasis on ancient Indian dynasties, cultural events like the Kumbh Mela, geographical concepts, and contemporary government welfare schemes, reported the National Herald.
These changes have been introduced under the framework of the New National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). According to NCERT officials, the revisions aim to offer a “more indigenous and holistic” view of India’s history, culture, and socio-economic development.
However, the move has drawn strong criticism from opposition leaders, historians, and educationists, who allege that the government is deliberately rewriting history to fit a particular ideological narrative. Critics argue that sidelining major periods such as the Mughal and Delhi Sultanate eras presents a distorted and incomplete portrayal of India’s rich and diverse past.
Defending the decision, NCERT representatives stated that the updated curriculum seeks to balance historical study with a renewed focus on India’s ancient heritage and modern governance models. “Our objective is to help students develop a deeper appreciation of India’s ancient traditions, cultural practices like the Kumbh Mela, and contemporary development initiatives,” an NCERT source explained.
The new textbooks are set to be introduced in schools nationwide from the upcoming academic session. As debates rage on, many experts fear that this aggressive saffronisation of textbooks could deepen divisions and erode the academic integrity of historical education.
