The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has reportedly revised its Class 7 history textbooks by removing references to the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate, and introducing content on dynasties reflecting the “Indian ethos,” along with references to the Maha Kumbh and Union government initiatives.
This is the first time all content related to the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate has been completely removed, although earlier, during the Covid-19 pandemic’s ‘syllabus rationalisation’ exercise, detailed accounts of dynasties like the Tughlaqs, Khaljis, Mamluks, and Lodis, along with a two-page table on Mughal emperors’ achievements, had only been trimmed.
The changes are aligned with the new National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, both of which emphasize integrating Indian traditions, philosophies, knowledge systems, and local contexts into school education, stressing content that is “rooted in the Indian and local context and ethos.”
Sanjeev Sanyal, who many considered as “Hindutva propagandist masquerading as a historian,” was part of the textbook development team.
In the foreword of the textbook, NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani wrote, “The text integrates the values we desire our students to develop, is rooted in the Indian cultural context, and introduces global perspectives in an age-appropriate manner.”
The Social Science Textbook, “Exploring Society: India and Beyond,” has introduced new chapters on ancient Indian dynasties such as the Magadha, Mauryas, Shungas, and Sātavāhanas, with an emphasis on promoting the “Indian ethos.”
A new chapter titled “How the Land Becomes Sacred” has been introduced in the textbook. It covers sacred and pilgrimage sites across India and beyond for religions such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
The chapter highlights places like the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Char Dham Yatra, the Shakti Pithas, and revered river confluences, mountains, and forests, presenting them as part of a “sacred geography,” according to a PTI report.
It also features a quote from India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, describing the country as a land of pilgrimages.
The new textbook claims that the “varna-jati system” initially contributed to social stability but later became rigid, particularly under British rule, resulting in social inequalities.
“The varna-jāti system has had a deep impact on Indian society, and generations of scholars have studied its countless aspects. There is a broad agreement that the system was significantly different (more flexible, in particular) in earlier periods and became more rigid with the passage of time, in particular during the British rule in India. Let us also keep in mind that while varna-jäti has been an important mechanism at work in Indian society, it is not the only one; there have been many others, some of which we will explore later, especially in the theme ‘Our Cultural Heritage and Knowledge Traditions’,” reads the book.
The textbook notes that 660 million people participated in the Maha Kumbh, but failed to mention the tragic stampede that resulted in 30 deaths and numerous injuries.
Further, it weaves in several Sanskrit terms throughout the different chapters, such as janapada (meaning “where the people have settled”), samrāj (“supreme ruler”), adhirāja (“overlord”), and rājādhirāja (“king of kings”).
The NCERT’s syllabus rationalisation in its textbooks has faced criticism from opposition parties, who have described the revamp as “saffronisation” aimed at aligning with the ruling party’s “agenda.”
P J James is the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Red Star took to X stating, “NCERT’s Islamophobic move to erase chapters on Mughal history from class 12 textbooks is part of NEP’s saffronisation of education. It smacks of neo-Nazi glorification associated with “new history writing” or “historical revisionism” now widespread among neofascist circles in EU!”
Earlier, the NCERT faced criticism from southern states for giving Hindi titles to English textbooks, with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) being accused of disregarding regional linguistic diversity.
 has reportedly revised its Class 7 history textbooks by removing references to the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate, and introducing content on dynasties reflecting the "Indian ethos," along with references to the Maha Kumbh and Union government initiatives.){kind=link}