NCERT Adds Emergency Chapter in Class 9 Social Science Textbook

This change is present in chapter six of the recently published Social Science textbook of NCERT – Understanding Society: India and Beyond (Grade 9, Part 1). This is a very significant development for secondary-level instruction on modern Indian political history.

Pradhan Backs Textbook Revision Move

The Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan applauded NCERT’s decision on Thursday to add an Emergency-specific part in the Class IX textbook of the council. 

The Union Minister said it was important that the future generation learns the “dark chapter of that period” in history so that such incidents may never be repeated in the future, the news agency ANI reported. 

Pradhan said, “This is correct. NCERT has done the right thing. Future generations should know and understand the dark deeds of the Emergency so that such a situation does not arise again. That is why NCERT brought it to the forefront. NCERT did a good job.”

Textbook Details Democratic Challenges Faced

By incorporating the Emergency lesson at the Class 9 level, NCERT will be equipping students to acquire the basic tenets of India’s democratic history at a younger age in their studies. 

"One of the major challenges to democracy in India was recorded when an Emergency was imposed in 1975-77. In the early 1970s, public dissatisfaction with the government led by Indira Gandhi was growing. Rising unemployment, inflation, and allegations of misgovernance led to widespread protests," the section states.

"In June 1975, a National Emergency was imposed by the government on the grounds of internal disturbance. During this period, a majority of Fundamental Rights were suspended, the press was censored, and numerous political leaders and activists were arrested. Democratic institutions came under severe strain, and citizens' freedom was restricted," it added.

NCERT Change Aligns with NEP 2020 Goals

This inclusion has come amid NCERT’s broader exercise of curriculum revision in the aftermath of the National Education Policy 2020 and will provide students with access to more information related to India's democratic history.

Under the revision of textbooks based on the NEP 2020 framework, NCERT has been incorporating multidisciplinary approaches and a civic orientation with students getting an education in their country’s past, political systems, and constitution.