Congress Leader Questions NCERT Over Removal of 'Secular' and 'Secularism' from Textbooks

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has accused the government of trying to "poison the minds of school-going children" after NCERT's revised Class 9 Social Science textbook removed references to "secular" and "secularism" from the main text under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 curriculum overhaul. "A wave of extreme religious fanaticism has gripped the nation. Removing the word 'secular' from NCERT textbooks clearly reveals an intention to poison the minds of school-going children. If we remove the concept of secularism, then what ideology will this country run on?" Wadettiwar said. He added: "This is nothing but a strategy to rule in the name of religion, keep the nation far away from reality, and hide the truth. They bring up such divisive issues simply to mask the real problems plaguing the country.

What has changed in the new textbook

Reports state that the revised Social Science textbook, which integrates History, Geography, Political Science and Economics into a single volume, marks a significant departure from previous editions. Among the most notable changes is the omission of the Preamble from the introductory chapter on the Constitution. References to "secular" and "secularism," which featured in earlier editions, have also been removed from the primary text. NCERT has instead introduced a broader discussion on constitutional values, institutions and governance while restructuring the subject in line with the NEP 2020's integrated learning approach. The updated curriculum also introduces a chapter on the 1975–77 Emergency for the first time in a Class 9 textbook, expands lessons on India's electoral system and democratic institutions, and warns against counterfeit textbooks. The revised book, titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond, includes a dedicated section on the Emergency, describing it as a major challenge to Indian democracy.