Parliament Question: Rationalisation of NCERT textbooks

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2126 ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026 Rationalisation of NCERT textbooks 2126 Shri Mohammed Nadimul Haque: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) whether the following chapters or references have been removed or edited under NCERT’s rationalisation exercise; (b) chapters on the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire from Class 7 Social Science (2025-26); (c) references to Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali from Class 8 Social Science (2025-26); (d) any mention of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad from Class 11 Political Science (2023); (e) chapter on “Weather, Climate and Adaptations of Animals to Climate” from Class 7 Science; (f) chapter on “Pollution of Air and Water” from Class 8 Science; (g) chapter on “Forest and Wildlife Resources” from Class 10 Geography; and (h) if so, the reasons therefor and details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (h): The NCERT textbooks for Class 6 to 8 which were developed in pursuance of National Curriculum Framework (NCF) - 2005, were later rationalized in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic due to concerns expressed by different stakeholders regarding content over-load, duplication / replication of content, etc. However, these textbooks are no longer in use and are not used for classroom transaction. NCERT has now developed and published new textbooks from Class 6 to 8 from academic session 2025- 2026. While developing the new textbooks, NCERT adopted an integrated, balanced, and learner-friendly approach, to address contemporary issues, give due space to different topics and meet the demand of new age pedagogy. The development of new textbooks is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF SE) 2023.The earlier rationalized textbooks in History for Class-7 & 8 have now been replaced with a new Social Science textbook “Exploring Society: India and Beyond”, Grade-8 (July 2025). This is an integrated Social Science textbook with themes drawn from different social science subjects such as Geography, History, Political Science, and Economics. The Science textbooks for Class 6, 7 and 8 have also been replaced and various topics have been integrated in new textbooks. The textbooks for Class 9 to 12 are in the process of development and currently the rationalized textbooks are in use for these classes. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s role as a freedom fighter, member of Constituent Assembly and other capacities is discussed in Class 10th and 12th History and Class 12th Political Science textbooks. The chapter “Forest and Wildlife Resources” (Chapter 2) in the NCERT Class 10th Geography textbook (rationalized) had not been removed. *****