National Curriculum Framework key document for preparing textbooks: NCERT chief
Oct 25, 2023
New Delhi [India], October 25 : National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani has denied reports that the proposal of the Social Sciences panel for changing 'India' to 'Bharat' in textbooks has been approved and said it was among 25 committees formed by the Council to prepare position papers on various subjects and themes.
He said two documents had been made based on the position papers - National Curriculum Framework for the foundational Stage and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education.
Saklani said the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) is the official document for the curriculum and textbooks.
NCERT on Wednesday said that "it is too premature to comment" on reports in sections of media concerning changing 'India' to 'Bharat' in its textbooks and noted that the development of new syllabus and textbooks is in the process for which groups of domain experts are being notified by it.
NCERT said that 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 so it is too premature to comment on the news being flashed in the media on the concerned issue".
An NCERT panel, headed by historian CI Issac, had earlier recommended replacing 'India' with 'Bharat' in school textbooks.
The recommendations were made by the seven-member Committee for Social Sciences.
The high-level NCERT committee made its recommendations in the final position paper on social sciences.
Speaking to ANI over the phone, Issac said the "term India started being used commonly only after the establishment of the East India Company and the battle of Plassey in 1757".
"We have unanimously recommended that the 'Bharat' should be used in textbooks for students across classes," Isaac said.
The panel chaired by Issac was among the 25 committees formed by the NCERT in December 2021 to prepare position papers on various subjects and themes.
A controversy had broken out over the panel recommendations with some opposition leaders alleging that "confusion" was being created as several institutions use 'India' in their names.
