NCERT Reconstitutes Political Science Panel With New Members

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has officially reconstituted its textbook development committee for Class 11 and 12 political science. The new 20-member panel includes four academics associated with organizations linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This shift in composition has drawn national attention as the council continues its ongoing efforts to update school curricula and revise the presentation of core social science subjects.

The NCERT maintains that the primary objective of these changes is to ensure that the content within school textbooks remains strictly factual and updated according to contemporary academic standards. Panel head Sandeep Shastri has emphasized that the goal is to streamline the instructional content for students while maintaining a neutral and objective pedagogical framework. The restructuring follows a series of wider curriculum revisions aimed at aligning school textbooks with the National Education Policy guidelines.

The inclusion of academics with ideological affiliations has sparked discussions among educationists regarding the potential influence on textbook content and the historical narratives presented to students. While supporters of the change suggest that a wider spectrum of scholarly voices will improve curriculum diversity, critics express concern over the potential for bias in sensitive political science topics. The development remains a point of intense focus for policymakers and academics alike as the new team begins its work on the upcoming academic materials.