New NCERT Social Science text replaces European revolutions with resistance movements in medieval India
The NCERT has released a new Class 9 Social Science textbook that replaces chapters on European revolutions with content focused on medieval Indian history and resistance movements. The curriculum now emphasizes the impact of foreign invasions and the historical conflict between the Mughal state and Sikh Gurus.
Why it matters
Changes to national textbooks often reflect shifting political and ideological priorities in education, sparking debates over historical narratives and national identity.
The new Social Science textbook for Class 9 students released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) has removed several chapters on European revolutions and has instead prioritised India’s medieval history, regional resistance movements, and the impact of successive foreign invasions in its new edition.
The new textbook, Understanding Society: India and Beyond - Part Two , replaces the previous edition’s chapters on European revolutions, particularly the French and Russian revolutions, with a detailed exploration of Indian sovereignty and resilience.
The new textbook introduces a comprehensive framework detailing the Indian subcontinent’s response to expansionist powers between 1,000 and 1,700 CE. It says that from the 7th century onwards, the Indian subcontinent faced successive phases of invasions driven by “territorial expansion and religious motives”.
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