CBSE Schools Await New NCERT Class 9 Books as Academic Session Begins CBSE schools in India are facing uncertainty as the new academic session starts on April 1, with the much-anticipated NCERT Class 9 textbooks still not available. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) confirmed that the revised books, aligned with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, are still in development. Himanshu Gupta, NCERT secretary, stated that the new textbooks for Grade 9 will be made available for the 2026-27 academic session. However, no specific timeline was provided, leaving schools and parents in a dilemma. School principals have expressed frustration over the delay, with one stating, “As usual, late. We are commencing classes on April 1 and we don’t have the books with us.” Another principal criticized the last-minute approach, saying, “These things should be planned a year in advance so that students get new books well before the session begins. If NCERT knew it’s playing it so close to the finish line, they should have postponed it by another year.” The NCERT advisory clarified that draft syllabi for Class 9 have been uploaded to its official website for reference and feedback. It also instructed teachers to ensure students’ prerequisite learning is addressed before starting the new syllabus. The Class 9 books are part of a phased rollout of textbooks following the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. NCERT noted that new books for Classes 1 to 8, developed in line with NCF-SE 2023, are already available in print and digital formats. For Classes 10 and 11, the rollout is scheduled for the 2027-28 academic session.#cbse #ncert #himanshu_gupta #national_education_policy #national_curriculum_framework
Why Michel Danino's Scholarship Must Be Cherished And Celebrated The Supreme Court recently drew attention to Michel Danino’s work amid a controversy involving a Class 8 NCERT textbook chapter on "corruption in the judiciary." On 11 March, the court ordered the blacklisting of three experts, including Danino, for their involvement in drafting the chapter. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, criticized the NCERT director’s response to the controversy, calling it "disturbing" after the chapter was rewritten without disclosing new experts or approval processes. The court directed the Union government and states to disassociate from Danino, Suparna Diwakar, and Alok Prasanna Kumar, citing concerns about their alleged misrepresentation of the Indian judiciary’s image to students. However, the three individuals were given the option to seek a modification of the order. Danino, a French-born Indian scholar and author, has been a subject of scrutiny in academic and media circles for years. Born in 1956 in Honfleur, France, he has lived in India since 1977 and holds Indian citizenship. Influenced by Sri Aurobindo and Auroville, he has dedicated his career to studying India’s ancient heritage. A visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar, he has authored works such as The Lost River: On the Trail of the Sarasvati (2010) and Indian Culture and India’s Future (2011). He has also co-edited textbooks on Indian knowledge traditions and edited Sri Aurobindo and India’s Rebirth (2018). Critics have accused Danino of promoting an ideological agenda, particularly for his sympathetic portrayal of ancient India’s civilisational achievements, his defense of the Sarasvati river’s physical existence, and his questioning of the Aryan invasion theory.#supreme_court #ncert #michel_danino #surya_kant #joymalya_bagchi
Supreme Court Imposes Life Ban on Three Academics for 'Corruption' Chapter in NCERT Textbook The Supreme Court on Wednesday imposed a life ban on three academics for their role in a controversial class 8 NCERT textbook chapter that referenced "corruption in the judiciary." The court held them responsible for "projecting a negative image of the judiciary" and ordered strict action against social media users who endorsed the content to undermine judicial integrity. The three academics—Prof Michel Danino, Suparna Diwakar, and Alok Prasanna Kumar—were barred from any government or government-aided institution projects, with the court emphasizing their failure to accurately represent the judiciary's role. The court directed the Union government to identify and take action against "social media mischief mongers" who amplified the objectionable content. NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani and school education secretary Sanjay Kumar apologized unconditionally for the "major and unpardonable lapse" and pledged to prevent similar issues in the future. The court criticized NCERT for not involving legal experts in the drafting process, noting that the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee lacked representation from legal professionals. The bench clarified that its orders did not aim to suppress legitimate criticism of judicial functioning but opposed the inclusion of unverified claims in educational materials. It mandated that any revised version of the chapter must be approved by a committee comprising a former judge, an eminent academician, and a renowned law practitioner, with the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal involved in the process. The court also emphasized that the revised chapter would not be included in the textbook unless it met these criteria.#supreme_court #ncert #dinesh_prasad_saklani #sanjay_kumar #national_judicial_academy
Justice for all: On the NCERT Textbook Issue, the Judiciary The Supreme Court of India has expressed concern over references to judicial corruption in a National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbook, directing that the curriculum development team lacked “reasonable, informed knowledge about the Indian judiciary.” The Court’s ruling has raised alarms about potential bias in textbook content, as it has instructed that individuals involved in the NCERT team should not be associated with preparing school curricula or finalizing textbooks for future generations. This directive has cast doubt over the entire process of textbook creation, with critics arguing that the Court’s focus on judicial chapters could set a precedent for other subjects, particularly history, where factual misrepresentation has occasionally been linked to ideological bias. The Court’s decision to involve a senior judge in approving chapters on the judiciary has sparked debate about the need for similar scrutiny in other areas of the curriculum. For instance, history textbooks have faced scrutiny for their portrayal of historical figures and events. A class eight social science textbook, for example, describes Muslim rulers as uniformly cruel and repressive while portraying Hindu kingdoms as benevolent and resistant to Muslim rule. Such narratives have drawn criticism for lacking objectivity and potentially fostering prejudice, despite disclaimers stating that modern students are not responsible for the “sins” of the past. The BJP and its affiliated groups have long criticized Indian textbooks for being “Macaulay-an,” arguing that they promoted a Westernized perspective that devalued India’s traditions and Hindu heritage.#judiciary #bjp #supreme_court_of_india #ncert #textbook_content
