NCERT textbook modification row: No merit in hue and cry, says UGC chief

“The recent modifications to the textbooks are not the only changes that have been made. NCERT has been revising its textbooks periodically in the past as well. The rationalization of textbook contents by NCERT is completely justified. NCERT has repeatedly stated that the revision of textbooks is based on feedback and suggestions from various stakeholders.

“Furthermore, NCERT has confirmed that it is developing a new set of textbooks in accordance with the recently launched National Curriculum Framework for School Education. The current textbooks, in which the contents have been rationalized to reduce academic load, are only a temporary phase. Given these facts, the hue and cry raised by these ‘academicians’ holds no merit. It appears that the motives behind their criticism are unrelated to academic reasons,” stated Kumar.

More than 100 other academicians supported Kumar and labeled the 33 dissenting academicians as “arrogant and self-interested individuals who aim to obstruct the implementation of NEP 2020.” Several academicians, including vice chancellors of central universities, NIT directors, and IIM chairpersons, issued a letter in support of NCERT’s rationalization process.

Kumar’s and the other academicians’ statements came one day after 33 academicians wrote to NCERT, requesting the removal of their names from the revised political science textbooks released by the Council. The letter from the academicians read, “Since there are substantial revisions to the original texts, effectively making them different books, we find it difficult to associate our names with them.”

These academicians expressed their concerns after political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar wrote a letter to NCERT Director D S Saklani. In response, the Council stated that the withdrawal of association by any member was out of the question. Following this, NCERT issued a public statement, emphasizing that the textbook development committees, including Yadav and Palshikar, ceased to exist once the books were published. It clarified that the copyright of educational materials remained with NCERT, independent of the committee.

In the recent letter signed by over 100 academicians, Yogendra Yadav and others were labeled as “self-interested.” The letter highlighted, “It is widely known that the school curriculum in India has not been updated for nearly two decades. The last update of textbooks was undertaken in 2006. The current NCERT team has been consistently working to reduce the burden on students and improve learning outcomes by rationalizing the syllabus and making the content relevant to current needs.”

“Their intent is to disrupt the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and hinder the updating of NCERT textbooks by spreading misinformation, rumors, and false allegations,” the letter concluded.