The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced several significant changes in the Class 12 Political Science textbook, which are now available in market. The most notable change is the removal of the term “Babri Masjid,” which has now been referred to as a “three-domed structure” in the new edition. Additionally, the chapter on Ayodhya has been condensed from four pages to two.
Key Changes Include:
Removal of Babri Masjid Reference: The term has been replaced with “three-domed structure.”
Reduction of Ayodhya Chapter: Content reduced from four pages to two, including descriptions of Lord Rama’s Rath Yatra, the role of kar sevaks, violence following the Babri Masjid demolition, and the imposition of President’s rule.
Historical Descriptions Revised: The previous description of Babri Masjid as a 16th-century mosque built by Mir Baqi is now described as a structure built at Lord Ram’s birthplace in 1528, with Hindu paintings and statues mentioned.
Changes in Legal and Communal Narratives:
- The old book detailed the 1986 Faizabad District Court’s decision to open the mosque for worship, leading to communal tensions and riots.
- The new book summarises these events, mentioning the opening of the three-domed structure and the subsequent legal and communal conflicts.
Supreme Court Decision Included: The new edition includes the Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling that the disputed land belongs to the temple.
Removal of Visual Content: Newspaper cuttings related to the removal of the Kalyan Singh government have been omitted.
Gujarat Riots Chapter Removed: The mention of the Gujarat riots has been deleted from the chapter on Democratic Rights.
This is the fourth revision of the NCERT book since 2014, reflecting updates based on the latest political developments. The new textbook will be implemented for the 2024-25 academic session, aiming to align educational content with contemporary political developments.
Source Agencies
