Op Sindoor, now in NCERT classrooms—‘mission of honour' to counter terror ‘ordered by Pakistan leadership'

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The two modules are titled 'Operation Sindoor—A Saga of Valour' for preparatory and middle stages or Classes 3 to 8, and 'Operation Sindoor—A Mission of Honour and Bravery' for secondary stage or Classes 9 to 12. The modules have been created with the aim of raising awareness about India's military power among school children.
The modules, which are basically supplementary reading material for students, also explain that the name Operation Sindoor was chosen as a tribute to the widows of the victims, symbolising solidarity, empathy, and respect.
New Delhi: Over three months after Operation Sindoor, the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced two new modules on the military operation as supplementary reading material for school children. The modules state that although Pakistan denied any involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack, it was carried out on 'direct orders' by 'Pakistan's military and political leadership'.
Calling Operation Sindoor 'a triumph of bravery, strategy, and innovation', the modules also mention India's air defence systems, like the S-400, which shot down enemy aircraft at long distances and also prevented enemy drones from causing damage.
Initiated in the early hours of 7 May, Operation Sindoor involved military strikes by India against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes were carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which took place on 22 April, with terrorists killing 26 tourists.
The modules highlight that people across the country stood united, with candlelight marches held nationwide in solidarity.
'Muslim communities in Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Bhopal wore black armbands and openly denounced the attack. In Kashmir, shopkeepers closed their shops in protest. Villages near the border demanded strong action and supported the Armed Forces,' the secondary stage module states.
'The local (Kashmiri) population stood up and spoke against terrorists. Their response breaks stereotypes and shows the real voice of peace-loving people,' it added.
It also says that the Resistance Front, or TRF, a known proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, first claimed responsibility, then denied it four days later.
However, India's National Investigation Agency confirmed the group was behind it—with solid evidence and eyewitness accounts. 'Indian agencies found that the attack was a well-planned conspiracy led by Pakistan's ISI and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). It was directly ordered by Pakistan's military and political leadership,' the secondary stage module states.
The modules include several quotes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Operation Sindoor, highlighting how, under his strategic leadership, the planning for the operation was 'very clear and empowering'.
The modules describe Operation Sindoor as a military success, a technological breakthrough, and a political message—all rolled into one. They call the operation 'a triumph of bravery, strategy, and innovation'.
'The valiant actions of the Indian Armed Forces compelled the Pakistan Armed Forces to seek an urgent ceasefire by breaking their will to continue the fight,' the secondary stage module adds.
The NCERT has been preparing special modules as supplementary reading material for students, focusing on key national themes. So far, 16 such modules have been released. They are designed to be interactive and engaging and are set in a classroom format, presented as a discussion between a teacher and students.
Balakot to Op Sindoor
The modules highlight retaliatory actions by Indian military forces, including the Balakot air strikes in 2019 following the Pulwama terror attack, and more recently, Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack.
'In the past, India has never shied away from standing up for its citizens. We gave a strong reply in the wars of 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999…. Operation Sindoor was also India's way of stopping terrorism, led by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM) and Pakistan's spy agency, ISI.'
'It was not just a military operation; it was a promise to protect peace and honour the lives lost,' the preparatory and middle stage modules state.
The NCERT modules detail the planning of Operation Sindoor and the roles played by the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
'Our Air Force, Army, and Navy worked together to defend India with great skill. Our air defence systems, like the S-400, shot down enemy aircraft at long distances and also prevented enemy drones from causing damage,' the modules add.
The modules elaborate how Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force worked closely with intelligence agencies. Their planning included pinpointing terrorist infrastructure such as training camps and launchpads, choosing the right weapons for precision strikes, setting the date and time for the attack, balancing precautionary deployments without losing the element of surprise, strategically moving naval assets forward, and even preparing for civil defence in case of war—air raid precautions and shelters.
They state that 21 sites were filtered, and nine terrorist locations were ultimately targeted—including Sawai Nala, Syedna Bilal Camp, Gulpur, Barnala, Abbas, Sarjal, Mehmoona Joya, Bahawalpur, and Muridke—key bases of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The modules note that the Indian Army destroyed seven of these camps, while the Air Force targeted Muridke and Bahawalpur. 'The precision strikes were executed in just 22 minutes,' the modules add.
The modules also say that soon after the Indian Army and Air Force destroyed terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Pakistan responded with ceasefire violations along the Line of Control. Starting 8 May 2025, it escalated the conflict by attacking air bases, logistics nodes, forward posts, and Army headquarters—using artillery and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
However, India was well prepared for such threats. 'The integrated air defence and counter-UAS systems, including the S-400, were already in place to effectively counter these attacks,' say the modules. The response shook the Pakistani establishment as 'our air strike breached their air defence, creating visible gaps that the world saw'.
Story behind the name 'Operation Sindoor'
The modules explain that the origin of the name 'Operation Sindoor'.
'Sindoor is a symbol of marriage, love, and respect. You often see brides wearing Sindoor at weddings. Now, imagine her as a soldier's wife, waiting for him to return. How would she feel if he never came back?… So, this operation has been named in honour of the wives who lost their husbands,' the modules state.
The modules also emphasise how a coordinated and extensive exercise was taken to reach out diplomatically by our missions abroad. 'On 18 July 2025, the United States officially declared TRF a foreign terrorist organisation. That was a major move. TRF is widely recognised now as just another face of Lashkar-e-Taiba,' they state.
The modules state that many countries stood with India. 'The United Nations Security Council even issued a strong statement, saying that the people who plan, fund, and carry out terrorist attacks must be punished,' they add.
The modules also include maps of the targeted sites and photographs of Pakistani drones destroyed by Indian air defence systems.
The modules state that while India strategically avoided civilian locations during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan retaliated by targeting civilian areas such as schools and religious sites in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 14 Indian civilians.
'But the Indian Army responded strongly and prevented further damage. They neutralised 35–40 Pakistani Army personnel, as per intelligence inputs,' the modules state.
The modules also highlight how the 'Make in India' campaign also shines through Operation Sindoor. 'Our Hon'ble Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh said the operation proved India can break through any enemy defence using what we've made ourselves.'
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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