In response to recent criticism regarding alleged historical inaccuracies, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has constituted a committee of subject experts to review feedback on the content of certain newly released textbooks.
The decision was announced on Thursday, just days after Chaitanya Raj Singh, a descendant of Jaisalmer’s former royal family, publicly raised concerns about a map in the Class 8 Social Science textbook. Singh claimed the map erroneously showed Jaisalmer as part of the Maratha Empire, a portrayal he described as “factually baseless, historically misleading, and seriously objectionable.”
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Singh argued that there are no credible historical sources indicating Maratha rule or dominance over the Jaisalmer region. His remarks sparked broader discussions on historical representation in school curricula, prompting NCERT to act.
In an official statement, NCERT clarified that it follows a structured review process, involving expert panels drawn from reputed institutions and subject-specific faculty members. These panels assess textbook content and pedagogy in response to substantial academic or public feedback.
The textbooks in question are part of NCERT’s recent rollout aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the updated National Curriculum Frameworks (NCF-FS & NCF-SE) for Classes 5 to 8. The council stated that all newly developed teaching materials are subject to continuous feedback and updates from educators, historians, and stakeholders.
“At present, NCERT has received feedback about the educational content in a few textbooks. Hence a Committee is being constituted having senior experts, as per its established practice. This committee will examine the feedback in light of the available evidences and submit its report at the earliest possible,” NCERT stated on X.
As the controversy unfolds, NCERT's move to form a review committee signals its commitment to ensuring that textbooks reflect accurate, evidence-based history and maintain pedagogical integrity.
