Latest news with #NationalCouncilofEducationResearchandTraining
NDTV
11 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
NCERT Blames Jinnah, Congress, Mountbatten As "Culprits Of Partition"
New Delhi: A new special module by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) has blamed three figures as responsible for the Partition of India, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Congress leadership, and then Viceroy Lord Mountbatten. The module, created for 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day', observed every year on August 14, states, "Jinnah, who demanded it; second, the Congress, which accepted it; and third, Mountbatten, who implemented it." This reference appears in a section titled 'Culprits of the Partition' in the module designed for Classes 6 to 8. Alongside, it also carries a speech by Jawaharlal Nehru from July 1947, which reads, "We have come to a stage when we must either accept division or face continued conflict and chaos. Partition is bad. But whatever the price of unity, the price of civil war would be infinitely greater." What The Modules Say NCERT has published two separate modules-one for Classes 6 to 8 (middle stage) and another for Classes 9 to 12 (secondary stage). These are supplementary resources in English and Hindi, not part of regular textbooks, and are meant to be used through projects, posters, discussions and debates. Both modules open with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2021 message announcing the observance of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. Quoting his post on X (formerly Twitter), the book mentions, "Partition's pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced, and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day." Middle-Stage Module The middle-stage module asserts that Partition "was not inevitable" and resulted from "wrong ideas." It also mentions Nehru and Patel accepted Partition fearing civil war, after which Mahatma Gandhi too gave up his opposition. "In fact, Nehru and Patel accepted Partition due to the fear of civil war. Upon their agreeing, Mahatma Gandhi, also gave up his opposition...," it notes. The module also says that Gandhi opposed it "not with violence or anger". Patel called it "bitter medicine," while Nehru described it as "bad" but unavoidable. Secondary-Stage Module The secondary-stage module traces Partition to Muslim leaders' belief in a separate identity rooted in "political Islam," which it claims "rejects any permanent equality with non-Muslims." It states that this ideology drove the Pakistan movement, with Jinnah as its "able lawyer-leader." It highlights how, after Mountbatten became Viceroy in March 1947, escalating violence and Jinnah's insistence led Nehru and Patel to agree to the division. On June 3, 1947, Mountbatten announced the Partition plan accepted by both Congress and the Muslim League. The module describes Partition as having "no parallel in world history." Between 1947 and 1950, it says, the division fractured India's unity, devastated Punjab and Bengal's economies, triggered mass killings and displacement, deepened communal distrust, and set Jammu and Kashmir on a path of turmoil that later worsened with terrorism. In a section titled 'Long-Term Losses - still ongoing', the book states, "India continues to face both external hostility and internal communal fragmentation. The same suspicion and animosity between the two major communities still persists - the very sentiment that had led to Partition." It further links the Partition to the Kashmir conflict, wars with Pakistan, terrorism, and India's high defence costs. According to the text, foreign powers backing Pakistan to pressure India have left lasting strains on the country's foreign policy.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Congress among culprits responsible for Partition, says NCERT module
Who is responsible for Partition? And who are the culprits of the humanitarian tragedy that killed at least 600,000 people and displaced 15 million? Congress among culprits responsible for Partition, says NCERT module A new special module created by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) on 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' (August 14) holds three people responsible: 'Jinnah, who demanded it; second, the Congress, which accepted it; and third, Mountbatten, who implemented it'. This quote is part of a section in the module, titled Culprits of the Partition. The section also features a quote by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, from a speech in July 1947: 'We have come to a stage when we must either accept division or face continued conflict and chaos. Partition is bad. But whatever the price of unity, the price of civil war would be infinitely greater.' The modules are separate short publications on specific topics that are not part of the textbooks; one is meant for Classes 6 to 8 (middle stage), and another for Classes 9 to 12 (secondary stage). The section on Culprits of the Partition appears in the first. NCERT's special modules are supplementary resources in English and Hindi that cover contemporary and culturally significant topics. They are not part of regular textbooks and are taught through projects, posters, discussions, and debates. Dr Ruchika Sharma, a Delhi-based historian and professor, welcomed the inclusion of Partition in school lessons but cautioned against oversimplifying its causes. 'It is unfair to hold only Jinnah, Mountbatten, and the Congress solely responsible. The rise of the Hindu Mahasabha as an extremist organisation was equally significant. In his writings, Hindu ideologue VD Savarkar argued for 'Hindusthan'—a nation exclusively for Hindus—which contributed to the perception among Muslims that they would have no rights in independent India.' Both modules open with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message marking the observance of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day from August 14, 2021. Citing his post on X that day, they recall his words: 'Partition's pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced, and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.' The module for the middle stage states that India's partition 'was not inevitable' and happened due to 'wrong ideas'. The module for the secondary stage says that Muslim leaders, citing differences in 'religion, culture, customs, history, and world view,' saw themselves as fundamentally separate from Hindus , rooted in the ideology of 'political Islam,' which it claims rejects any permanent equality with non-Muslims. This ideology, it states, underpinned the Pakistan movement, with Jinnah acting as its 'able lawyer-leader.' Mountbatten became Viceroy in March 1947, but with Jinnah adamant on Pakistan and violence escalating, Nehru and Patel agreed to Partition. On 3 June 1947, Mountbatten announced the plan to divide India, create Pakistan, and let princely states choose their allegiance—accepted by both Congress and the Muslim League. 'In fact, Nehru and Patel accepted Partition due to the fear of civil war. Upon their agreeing, Mahatma Gandhi, also gave up his opposition to Partition. On 14 June 1947, in a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, he persuaded other Congress leaders also to accept Partition,' the module for middle stage states. It adds that Gandhi opposed it but ' not with violence or anger'; Patel called it 'bitter medicine' to avert civil war; and Nehru, though calling it 'bad', said division was preferable as the 'price of civil war would be infinitely greater.' While Gandhi and Patel's quotes are in a section titled 'How the Partition happened' Nehru's quote is under the 'Culprits of the Partition' section. The special module for secondary stage states that India's Partition has 'no parallel in world history'. Between 1947 and 1950, Partition fractured India's unity, created hostile borders, triggered mass killings and displacement, deepened communal distrust, devastated Punjab and Bengal's economies, and set Jammu and Kashmir on a path of social, economic, and demographic decline later worsened by terrorism, the module says. Under a section titled 'Long-Term Losses — still ongoing,' the module states, 'India continues to face both external hostility and internal communal fragmentation. The same suspicion and animosity between the two major communities still persists – the very sentiment that had led to Partition.' The module links Partition to the Kashmir conflict – marked by wars, terrorism, and thousands of deaths – and to foreign powers backing Pakistan to pressure India, resulting in India's heavy defence costs and lasting strains in foreign policy.
Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
NCERT book features carpentry, animal care
From learning basic carpentry skills, building hydroponics, designing home automation circuits to caring for animals and creating ethical advertisements for local businesses, the new National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) Class 8 vocational education activity book introduces students to six hands-on projects aimed at blending practical skills with cultural and environmental awareness among them. NCERT book features carpentry, animal care The book roots vocational education in India's traditional knowledge – from Atharva Veda's ecological ethics in woodworking to indigenous veterinary remedies and historical floating farms of Dal Lake and Loktak Lake. Developed in alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 provisions, the 202-page book titled 'Kaushal Bodh,' asks schools to organise 'Kaushal Mela,' an end-of-year exhibition where students would display self-made products and services, share their learning experiences, and engage with peers, teachers, and community members to celebrate skills and creativity. In National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, work has been categorised under three broad forms: work with life forms (plants, animals, farming); work with machines and materials (carpentry, electronics, automation); and work in human services (advertising, entrepreneurship, community engagement). Under NCF-SE, students are expected to take up nine projects across Class 6 to 8 with three projects in each Class and one from each form of work. '...The projects will help students to develop knowledge, skills, attitude and values alongside ecological sensitivity, gender sensitivity, digital skills, and life skills.' reads the foreword of the book. Project 1 on hydroponics teaches students about soil-less farming and introduces them to compost tea made with jaggery and compost, and India's age-old water-based farming techniques in floating farms like those on Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir and Loktak Lake in Manipur. Project 2 on animal care blends science and indigenous wisdom, covering fodder preparation, natural remedies, and livestock weight estimation using Schaeffle's formula, preparing silage, and creating a first-aid kit for livestock. The project also highlights India's history as a milk-producing nation and custodian of 43 indigenous cattle breeds. Project 3 on wood and bamboo work builds basic carpentry skills using eco-friendly materials, inspired by traditional structures like the Padmanabhapuram Palace in Thuckalay, Tamil Nadu. Under the project, the book quotes a verse from the Atharva Veda: 'Whatever we dig… may it have quick regeneration' linking woodworking to ecological ethics. Project 4 on home automation introduces beginner electronics and Internet of Things (IoT) encouraging students to design sensor-based lights and motion detectors. Project 5 on water audit focuses on water conservation, where students measure household usage, analyse data, and propose community solutions. Project 6 on creating advertisements develops creativity and media literacy among students by encouraging them to design posters, jingles, and reels for local businesses. 'The choice of projects is left entirely to schools. One project may be taken up by students or preferably, the school can design other projects based on local considerations,' reads the about the book section of the book. Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu Public School in Rohini, northwest Delhi, said that the vocational education books provide hands-on learning experiences to students. 'These books provide guidance on how to conduct different activities to impart skills among students which is more important than gaining knowledge of ideas. Vocational education books raise awareness among students about the environment at a young age which is important for sustainable development. We refer to these books to conduct activities for students in our schools,' she said. NCERT had released the vocational education books for class 6 in July 2024 and for class 7 in March 2025.
NDTV
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
NCERT Launches New Textbooks Based On New Education Policy 2020
NCERT Launches New Textbooks: The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) has launched new textbooks for Classes 5 and 8 based on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. NCERT in the new textbooks tried to spark imagination, creativity, and conceptual clarity in young minds. As per the post on (formerly known as Twitter), NCERT shared information regarding new textbooks for Class 8. For Class 8, "Curiosity", a Science Textbook and "Kaushal Bodh", a Vocational Education Textbook have been launched. More, including textbooks for Class 5 have been launched. Here is a list of new textbooks launched by NCERT: Malhar - Hindi Textbook (Class-8) Veena - Hindi Textbook (Class 5) Santoor - English Textbook (Class 5) Kriti - Art Textbook (Grade 8) Poorvi - English Textbook (Grade 8) 𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐓 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐄𝐏 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎 & 𝐍𝐂𝐅-𝐒𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 📖 📘 Curiosity (Science Textbook) - Class 8 📘Kaushal Bodh (Vocational Education Textbook) - Class-8 Crafted to spark imagination, creativity, and conceptual clarity in… — NCERT (@ncert) July 9, 2025 New textbooks based on NEP 2020 for Classes 1, 2, 3 and 6 were released in the previous years. While the Class 5 and 8 textbooks are not available online or offline, NCERT has listed these books on for sale and is expected to publish them soon.
