NCERT’s revised Class 9 Social Science book has sparked political debate after dropping the Preamble and introducing a detailed chapter on the 1975-77 Emergency
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has unveiled a revised Class 9 Social Science textbook that omits the Preamble to the Constitution and references to “secular” and “secularism” while introducing, for the first time, a detailed chapter on the 1975-77 Emergency. The changes have sparked a sharp political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress.
The new textbook has been developed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. It replaces separate textbooks for history, geography, political science and economics with an integrated volume titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond – Part 1, which will be introduced from the 2026-27 academic session.
Preamble omitted from new curriculum
Unlike the previous Democratic Politics-I textbook, which devoted an entire chapter to the Constitution and reproduced the Preamble while explaining terms such as “Sovereign“, “Socialist“, “Secular“, “Democratic” and “Republic“, the revised edition does not reproduce the Preamble or define its terminology.
The new book discusses the Constitution through the Constituent Assembly, democratic institutions, Fundamental Rights and constitutional values such as liberty, equality, justice and fraternity. However, the terms “secular” and “secularism” do not appear anywhere in the volume.
Emergency introduced in Class 9
For the first time, the revised Class 9 curriculum includes a dedicated section on the Emergency imposed between 1975 and 1977.
The chapter states that during the Emergency, Fundamental Rights were suspended, the press was censored, political leaders and activists were arrested, democratic institutions came under severe strain and citizens’ freedoms were curtailed.
It also explains that widespread protests led by Jayaprakash Narayan against unemployment, inflation and alleged misgovernance preceded the Emergency. The book concludes that the 1977 general election demonstrated the resilience of Indian democracy and underscored the importance of constitutional safeguards and civil liberties.
Political controversy erupts
The revised content has reignited political debate.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the inclusion of the Emergency chapter, saying future generations should understand the “dark deeds of the Emergency.”
Congress leader Sachin Pilot criticised the changes, alleging that the BJP was attempting to reshape history and educational content to suit its political narrative. He argued that India’s democracy today faces unprecedented challenges.
Changes to Election Commission chapter
The revised textbook also changes the treatment of the Election Commission.
The earlier Class 9 textbook highlighted the Commission’s wide-ranging powers, independence and authority to enforce the Model Code of Conduct and order re-polls.
The new edition focuses primarily on its constitutional mandate, describing its responsibility for the “superintendence, direction and control” of elections without elaborating on many of the examples previously included.
New textbooks under NEP
NCERT said the revised books have been prepared under the NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023 to encourage critical thinking and a broader understanding of society, governance, economy, culture and the environment.
The council has already rolled out new textbooks for Classes 1 to 8, while the revised Class 9 books are being introduced during the current phase of curriculum implementation.
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