Questions about NCERT textbook controversies

Short answers, pulled from the story.

What happened to the Ancient India textbook by Romila Thapar in 1966?

The 1966 publication of Ancient India by Romila Thapar triggered immediate outrage from Hindu and Sikh religious organizations over its mention of beef-eating in ancient times. The Hindu Mahasabha and Arya Samaj claimed the content violated the religious sentiments of the Hindu nationality, marking the first time a government-appointed textbook faced a direct challenge from religious groups. This event established a precedent where history writing became weaponized to define national identity rather than foster unity.

Why did the Bharatiya Janata Party government overhaul NCERT textbooks in 2002?

The Bharatiya Janata Party government attempted to overhaul NCERT textbooks in 2002 through a new National Curriculum Framework to free institutions from alleged dynastic control by the Indian National Congress and Communists. The execution involved deleting references to beef-eating, cattle sacrifice, and the critical evaluation of Puranic traditions while removing the early life of Vardhamana Mahavira. Critics labeled this move as saffronization and noted that the new textbooks authored by Professor Makkhan Lal and Professor Hari Om gave more importance to Hindu culture and beliefs.

What caused the resignation of NCERT chief advisors in April 2012?

A cartoon in a Grade 11 textbook titled Cartoons impression of the snails pace with which the Constitution was made ignited a firestorm that led to the resignation of NCERT chief advisors Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar. The Republican Party of India, led by Ramdas Athavale, demanded the book be banned and the Minister for Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal, resign, claiming the image insulted the architect of India's Constitution. The NCERT was forced to remove the cartoon and replace it with a photograph of Dr. Rajendra Prasad greeting Ambedkar.

How many changes were made to NCERT textbooks between 2017 and 2021?

Between 2017 and 2021, the NCERT conducted a review exercise that resulted in 1,334 changes across 182 textbooks. The process removed entire chapters on the Mughal Empire, the Delhi Sultanate, and the Cold War Era while deleting references to the Emergency, the Naxalite movement, and the role of minorities. The Class 12 Political Science textbook Politics in India Since Independence underwent controversial changes where the heading of a passage describing the 2002 Gujarat riots was changed from Anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat to Gujarat riots.

What claim did the NCERT make about the Harappan civilization in April 2024?

In April 2024, the NCERT released revised textbooks claiming that the Harappans were an indigenous people with an unbroken continuity for 5,000 years. The revised chapter Bricks, Beads and Bones stated that Harappan genetic roots go back to 10,000 BCE, a claim that critics argued was politically motivated and aimed at downplaying the role of migration in shaping modern India. The textbook also removed the name Babri Masjid and replaced it with a three-domed structure while shortening the section on Ayodhya from four pages to two.

What controversy surrounded the Chandrayaan Utsav modules released in August 2023?

The August 2023 release of ten sets of reading modules titled Chandrayaan Utsav drew scientific criticism for mixing science with mythology. The third module suggested that ancient Indian texts like the Vaimanika Shastra contained knowledge of flying vehicles, a claim that scientists from the Indian Institute of Science refuted as not aerodynamically sound. Former ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair called the claims scientific fiction, and the module was initially withdrawn before being reintroduced after the government defended its content.

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