A new class IX social science textbook released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Thursday presents a discussion on the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi while deleting the preamble and references to ‘secularism’ and ‘secularism’ that had featured prominently in the previous class IX textbook, sparking a political row.
The revised textbook, released under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, discusses the Constitution through its formulation, democratic institutions and fundamental rights but does not reproduce the Preamble or explain its terminology. It also introduces the state of emergency for the first time in the revised ninth-grade curriculum, describing it as a period when democratic institutions came under severe pressure and citizens’ freedoms were curtailed.
The changes have reignited a political battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan saying future generations must understand the “dark deeds of the Emergency” and the Congress claiming the move was driven by “divisive politics” and an attack on constitutional values.
The preamble was deleted, and a state of emergency was added
In the previous textbook, Democratic Politics 1, an entire chapter entitled Constitutional Design is devoted to explaining the constitution-making process. The class used the Preamble as a central framework to introduce students to constitutional values and described it as a document that “contains the philosophy on which the entire Constitution is built.” Students were taught the meaning of “sovereign,” “socialist,” “secular,” “democratic,” and “republic.” The chapter said the preamble “reads like a poem about democracy” and explained secularism as a system with “no official religion” in which the state accords equal respect to all religions.
In the new textbook, the Constitution is discussed through sections on the Constituent Assembly, constitution-making, democratic institutions, and fundamental rights. The textbook notes that the Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946 to draft a constitution for independent India and describes the constitution as a “robust, flexible, transformative and responsive” document. It also emphasizes freedom, equality, justice, and brotherhood, and discusses rights related to equality, freedom, and religion.
However, the new textbook does not reproduce the preamble or explain its terminology. Reviewing the text shows that the words “secular” and “secular” do not appear in the volume. The book also does not indicate that these concepts will be covered in later grades.
Emergency was previously discussed in NCERT’s Class 12 Political Science textbook, which was introduced in 2007 and is still in use. This is the first time that the subject has been integrated into the revised Class IX curriculum rolled out under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.
The newly released 220-page textbook, titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond – Part I, replaces the separate textbooks for history, geography, political science and economics that were in use till the 2025-2026 academic session. The integrated textbook, which will be used starting in the 2026-27 academic year, contains two chapters from the four disciplines.
Emergency dismissal raises political controversy
A section entitled “Challenges to democratic practices in India” within the chapter on democracy introduces the state of emergency.
The book states: “In June 1975, a state of national emergency was imposed on the basis of internal unrest. During this period, the majority of basic rights were suspended, press censorship was imposed, and many political leaders and activists were arrested. Democratic institutions came under severe pressure, and citizens’ freedom was restricted.”
The section adds that this period witnessed “weaknesses and flexibilities” in India’s democratic institutions.
“One of the major challenges to democracy in India was recorded when the Emergency was imposed in 1975-77,” the textbook says. The report notes that public discontent against Indira Gandhi’s government in the early 1970s, amid high unemployment, inflation and allegations of mismanagement, sparked widespread protests.
“Mass movements led by Jayaprakash Narayan – the political leader and socialist thinker, known as Lok Nayak – mobilized students and citizens, especially in Bihar and Gujarat.”
The textbook notes that the state of emergency was lifted in 1977, and general elections were held, allowing people to express their will through ballots.
“The defeat of the ruling government demonstrated the strength of Indian democracy and highlighted the importance of constitutional guarantees, civil liberties and active participation of citizens in protecting democratic values,” the report said.
The inclusion came two years after the Center announced that June 25 would be observed annually as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Divas’ (Constitutional Killing Day) to commemorate the Emergency.
“NCERT has done the right thing. Future generations should know and understand the dark deeds of the Emergency,” Pradhan told reporters in Chandigarh.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot criticized the BJP for including the subject of Emergency in the textbook for class IX.
“I have seen that when there is a BJP government, whether in the state or at the Centre, the first thing they do is try to present books, history and literature in their own way. This may be the aim of the BJP government, but I think we have to look forward.” He added that the challenge facing democracy today is unprecedented in the history of independent India.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut defended Indira Gandhi, saying she did not violate any political party or abrogate the Constitution.
“The state of emergency is not just a subject of study, but it is also stipulated in the constitution. The constitution gives the prime minister the right to impose a state of emergency if chaos spreads in the country. This does not mean that you should not respect the constitution.”
Other changes in the book
The treatment of the Election Commission also changed. In a previous ninth-grade class on electoral politics, students were told that “very few electoral commissions in the world have powers as wide-ranging as the Election Commission of India.” The chapter stressed the independence of the Commission, explaining that governments complied with its directives because it was “independent and powerful,” and discussed powers such as enforcing the Model Code of Conduct and ordering re-polling.
The chapter on elections in the new textbook focuses primarily on the constitutional powers and responsibilities of the Election Commission. He points out that the Constitution granted the Election Commission “supervision, direction and control” over the elections, and discusses its role in conducting elections in the world’s largest democracy.
NCERT did not respond to HT’s queries. However, NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani wrote in the introduction: “The content has been carefully selected to engage students in questions relating to society, governance, environment, culture, economics and human relations. This approach aims to encourage learners to think critically and empathetically about the world in which they live.”
NCERT is releasing new textbooks under NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023. It has released textbooks for Class 1 to 8 except Social Science Part II for Class 8 and Class 9 books which will be released this year.
