NCERT Panel Recommends Name Change For School Textbooks From 'India' To 'Bharat'

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) should consider replacing the name ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in textbooks and introduce ‘classical History’ instead of ancient History in the curriculum, a high-level panel for social sciences, constituted by NCERT has recommended.

"The committee has unanimously recommended that the name 'Bharat' should be used in textbooks for students across classes. We have also recommended introducing 'classical history' instead of 'ancient history' in the textbooks," Isaac told PTI.

Although the proposal was put forward a few months ago, it has now officially been accepted. The committee has also suggested emphasizing “Hindu victories” within the textbooks.

C I Issac, the head of the committee, went into more detail and emphasized the importance of these changes. The group has also proposed including the Indian Knowledge System (IKS)  into the curriculum for all subjects.

Other members of the committee include ICHR Chairperson Raghuvendra Tanwar, Vandana Mishra, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Vasant Shinde, former vice-chancellor of the Deccan College Deemed University, and Mamta Yadav, who teaches sociology in a Haryana government school.

On media claims that India's name might be changed to Bharat in all NCERT textbooks, ANI quoted NCERT as saying, "Since the development of new syllabus and textbooks is in the process and for that purpose various Curricular Area Groups of domain experts are being notified by the NCERT. So, it is too premature to comment on the news being flashed in the media on the concerned issue."

(With inputs from PTI & ANI)