All Facts Based On Well-Known Academic Sources: NCERT On Mughal Chapter Row

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5 days ago

NCERT has clarified that its Class 8 Mughal history textbook is based on well-known sources and aims to promote holistic learning for students.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued an clarification following criticism of its newly released Class 8 Social Science textbook, 'Exploring Society, India and Beyond". The textbook, introduced under the updated National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has sparked debate for its portrayal of prominent Mughal rulers such as Babur, Akbar, and Aurangzeb.
Concerns were raised regarding descriptions in the textbook that refer to Babur as a 'brutal and ruthless conqueror", depict Akbar's rule as a mixture of 'brutality and tolerance", and describe Aurangzeb as someone who demolished temples and gurdwaras. Critics argue that such characterisations may give young learners a skewed or negative impression of the Mughal era.
In response, NCERT stated that the textbook is based on well-established primary and secondary academic sources, and has been designed to provide students with a broad, multidisciplinary understanding of India's past, particularly the period spanning the 13th to mid-19th century.
'The objective is not to overwhelm children with excessive facts, but to help them develop a critical understanding of how events in history have shaped the India we live in today," the council said in a statement. The book integrates elements of history, geography, economics, and governance, and follows the framework outlined in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.
To address possible concerns about misinterpretation or bias, NCERT has included a note on page 20, titled 'A Note on Some Darker Periods in History". This section acknowledges that history often involves episodes of violence and conflict, and advises readers not to hold present-day individuals or communities accountable for the actions of historical figures.
NCERT further emphasised that the textbook must be read in its entirety and not judged based on isolated excerpts. It reiterated that the goal is to foster balanced, contextual, and holistic learning, not to create division or promote prejudice.
This clarification arrives amidst wider discussions on the evolving nature of history education in Indian schools, particularly as the new curriculum encourages the blending of factual content with critical thinking and ethical awareness.
The textbook remains in use, with NCERT urging educators, parents, and students to approach it as part of a sincere and thoughtful effort to deepen understanding of India's complex and layered past.
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First Published:
July 17, 2025, 09:08 IST
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