NCERT panel recommends replacing India with Bharat in school textbooks

A high-level social science committee established by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to review the school curriculum has proposed that Bharat should be used in place of India in all textbooks for all grades.

According to committee chairperson C I Isaac, the panel has suggested replacing the name India with Bharat in the textbooks, introducing classical history, instead of ancient history, in the curriculum and including the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in the syllabus for all subjects.

NCERT Chairman Dinesh Saklani, however, said no decision has been taken yet on the panel’s recommendations. The committee has unanimously recommended that the name ‘Bharat’ should be used in the textbooks for students across classes. We have also recommended introducing classical history instead of ancient history in the textbooks, Isaac told PTI.

Bharat is an age-old name. The name Bharat has been used in ancient texts, such as Vishnu Purana, which is 7,000 years old, Isaac said. The name Bharat first appeared officially when the government sent out G20 invites in the name of President of Bharat, instead of President of India.

Isaac said the committee has also recommended highlighting Hindu victories in various battles in the textbooks. Our failures are presently mentioned in the textbooks. But our victories over the Mughals and sultans are not, said Isaac, who is also a member of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR).

NCERT is revising the curriculum of the school textbooks in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The council recently constituted a 19-member National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC) to finalise the curriculum, textbooks and learning material for these classes.