A political row has erupted over major changes to the new Social Science textbook for Class 9 by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the Emergency period 1975-77 are part of the book now, but the definition of the word Preamble and words 'secular' and 'secularism' are no more part of the book.
The new book heaps praise on the Election Commission of India (ECI) for conducting impartial polls despite challenges such as fake news, misinformation and intimidation.
The SIR voter roll revision exercise is reportedly defined in the book as an exercise to ensure that no eligible citizen is left out of the voter list and no ineligible person is included.
However, the Opposition has long criticised the SIR, and the introduction of the Emergency subject in the Class 9 textbook has sparked a political controversy.
Congress MP KC Venugopal said that the NCERT has become a BJP department for "distorting the history" and "putting venomous" items in students' minds.
The government has backed the introduction of the Emergency subject in the Class 9 textbook, but the Congress alleges that the introduction of the subject was driven by "divisive politics" and is an attack on constitutional values.
