NCERT's controversial curriculum trimming sparks row

Many academicians and historians have alleged that 'selective sweeping changes' have been made to the NCERT syllabus, expunging large sections of the Mughal history. While the NCERT rationalised the curriculum during Covid-19 to reduce the strain on students, there is a charge that the education body is still chopping down certain sections of the syllabi from Classes 6 to 12 using Covid as an excuse. NCERT director professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani refuted the allegation stating that the NCERT books with rationalised syllabi were already printed but could not be introduced in the market as schools were closed. The NCERT director clearly stated that it is not a change in syllabi or curriculum but the content printed on the books has been changed. According to the NCERT, all the changes that have been introduced will come into effect from the 2023-24 academic year. Omissions have been made in history, political science and sociology. Several chapters on Delhi Sultanate and Mughal history have been removed for Classes 7 to 12. References to the Gujarat riots have been slashed. Three references to the Emergency, the Chipko movement, the Narmada Bachao Andolan and even every mention of Naxalism has been removed.