NCERT Rewrites History: Mughal Era Erased from Class 7 Textbooks, Indian Traditions Take Center Stage

NCERT has removed references to the Mughal period and the Delhi Sultanate from Class 7 textbooks as part of a curriculum overhaul aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The revised textbooks focus on Indian traditions, philosophies, and modern government initiatives, sparking debates on historical inclusivity.

Mrudula Narale

Delhi, April 28, 2025: In a sweeping change in its curriculum, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has eliminated all mentions of the Mughal period and the modern Delhi Sultanate from its Class 7 textbooks. The newly published textbooks, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, focus on Indian traditions, philosophies, knowledge systems, and localities. This major overhaul includes chapters on Indian dynasties, cultural sites such as the Mahakumbh Mela, and government policies like Make in India and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, as a sign of moving towards a more local and culturally embedded educational account.

The revised textbooks, launched this week, are a continuation of NCERT’s attempts to streamline history content. In the 2022-23 academic session, during the pandemic of COVID-19, NCERT had already cut down passages on the Mughal and Delhi Sultanate eras, leaving out in-depth descriptions of dynasties such as the Tughlaqs, Khiljis, Mamluks, and Lodis, and a two-page table describing Mughal emperors’ achievements. The recent changes go even further, entirely erasing these historical references. This step has given rise to debate regarding the recasting of India’s past education, with indigenous heritage and new national priorities now squarely in focus.

The revised curriculum framework emphasizes material that reflects India’s cultural and intellectual heritage. The dynasties chapter emphasizes the roles of ancient and medieval monarchs, and the addition of the Mahakumbh Mela reflects the importance of India’s religious and cultural festivals. Government flagship initiatives such as Make in India, encouraging local manufacturing, and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, aimed at educating girls and protecting them, have been integrated into the curriculum to motivate students with contemporary national ambitions. They indicate an attempt towards inculcating pride in India’s heritage and making education relevant to prevailing socio-economic objectives.

This series of textbooks is merely the first phase of the revamp, with the second half set to be published soon. NCERT is taking a phased approach so that it can fine-tune its content even more while aligning with the NEP’s vision of holistic and student-centered education. The focus on Indian philosophies and local knowledge systems is designed to make education more contextual and rooted in students, diverging from a Eurocentric or outside perspective on Indian history.

The excision of references to Mughal and Sultanate has put into question the balance between cultural prioritization and historical inclusivity. While the updated textbooks seek to honor India’s indigenous heritage, the full erasure of important historical periods could lead to debates surrounding the breadth of historical education. For the time being, NCERT’s ambitious curriculum overhaul marks a new direction for school education, one that celebrates Indian identity, traditions, and modern-day achievements while reimagining the way history is presented to the future generation.

Follow : https://www.instagram.com/newsdotz?igsh=MXRleTNiZnV5eThuYg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Read : https://newsdotz.com/pimpri-chinchwad-set-to-pioneer-maharashtras-electric-transit-revolution/