The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has revised its textbooks, which includes the 12th grade History book, by removing the chapters on the Mughal empire.

The change will apply to all schools that follow NCERT across India, according to local reports.

NCERT revises history, hindi and civics textbooks

The NCERT has removed chapters related to ‘Kings and Chronicles; the Mughal Courts (C. 16th and 17th centuries)’ from the History book ‘Themes of Indian History-Part 2’.

In the same way, NCERT will also remove poems and paragraphs mentioning the Mughal empire from Hindi textbooks.

The changes will be implemented for the current academic session (2023-2024). Aside from the 12th grade Civics book has also been revised, removing two chapters titled ‘American Hegemony in World Politics’ and ‘The Cold War Era.’

Continuing with the changes, NCERT has removed two chapters, namely ‘Rise of Popular Movements’ and ‘Era of One Party Dominance,’ from the grade 12 textbook ‘Indian Politics after Independence.’

NCERT has also revised Class 10th and 11th textbooks. Chapters on ‘Democracy and Diversity,’ ‘Popular Struggles and Movements,’ and ‘Challenges of Democracy’ have been removed from the Class 10th book ‘Democratic Politics-2’.

Additionally, chapters such as ‘Central Islamic Lands,’ ‘Clash of Cultures,’ and ‘Industrial Revolution’ have been dropped from the grade 11 textbook ‘Themes in World History’.

Senior officials confirmed that the new syllabus and textbooks have been updated from this year and are being implemented in various schools.

Who are India’s Mughals?

The Mughal Empire was a powerful Islamic empire that ruled large parts of the Indian subcontinent from the early 16th century to the mid-19th century. It was founded by Babur, a Turkic-Mongol prince who claimed descent from both Genghis Khan and Tamerlane.

Under the rule of Babur and his successors, the Mughal Empire became one of the wealthiest and most powerful empires in the world. It was known for its rich culture, art, and architecture, as well as its military prowess. The empire was characterised by a strong centralised government, a sophisticated administrative system, and a policy of religious tolerance.

Some of the most famous Mughal emperors include Akbar the Great, who expanded the empire to its greatest extent and implemented a policy of religious tolerance; Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his wife; and Aurangzeb, who expanded the empire but also faced challenges due to his strict religious policies.

The Mughal Empire declined in the 18th century due to a combination of internal strife, economic difficulties, and pressure from European colonial powers. The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was deposed by the British in 1858, marking the end of the Mughal Empire. Despite its decline, the Mughal Empire had a lasting impact on India’s culture, language, and history.