New Delhi | June 25 In a significant revision to the school curriculum, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) ha...
New Delhi | June 25
In a significant revision to the school curriculum, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has, for the first time, introduced a dedicated section on the 1975–77 Emergency in its new Class 9 Social Science textbook. The chapter describes the Emergency as "one of the major challenges to Indian democracy" and explains its impact on democratic institutions and citizens' rights.
The topic appears in the newly released textbook Understanding Society: India and Beyond, developed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023. Unlike previous editions, where the Emergency was mainly discussed in higher classes, the revised curriculum introduces the subject at the secondary level to help students understand India's democratic journey from an earlier stage.
What the chapter says
According to the textbook, the Emergency was proclaimed in 1975 amid growing political unrest, inflation, unemployment, and widespread protests against the government led by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
It states that during the 21-month Emergency:
A majority of Fundamental Rights were suspended.
Press censorship was imposed.
Many opposition leaders, activists, and journalists were detained.
Democratic institutions faced severe challenges.
The chapter presents the period as an important historical event that demonstrates both the vulnerabilities and resilience of India's democratic system. It also discusses how the Emergency ended with the 1977 general election, after which democratic governance was restored.
Part of broader curriculum reforms
The inclusion is part of NCERT's wider restructuring of the Class 9 Social Science syllabus, which replaces the earlier separate History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics books with an integrated textbook.
The revised curriculum aims to promote interdisciplinary learning while strengthening constitutional values and civic awareness among students.
NCERT warns against fake textbooks
Following the release of the new textbook, NCERT also issued a public advisory warning students, parents, and schools against the circulation of pirated and unauthorised copies, including fake versions of the Class 9 Social Science book being shared online. It urged everyone to rely only on official NCERT publications.
