NCERT Class 9 Textbook Revision Triggers Political Debate Over Emergency Chapter and Omission of Preamble

Yugcharan News / June 26, 2026

The release of a revised Class 9 Social Science textbook by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has sparked a fresh political debate after the new edition introduced a detailed chapter on the 1975–77 Emergency while omitting the Preamble to the Constitution and references to the terms "secular" and "secularism" that appeared in the previous textbook. The revisions, introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, have drawn sharp reactions from both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress.

The updated textbook, titled "Understanding Society: India and Beyond – Part 1", will be introduced from the 2026–27 academic session and replaces separate books for history, geography, political science and economics with an integrated social science curriculum. While NCERT says the revised content is intended to encourage critical thinking and provide a broader understanding of society and governance, the changes have reignited discussions about how India's constitutional and political history should be presented in school education.

Emergency Included for the First Time in Class 9

One of the most significant changes in the revised curriculum is the inclusion of a dedicated section discussing the Emergency imposed between 1975 and 1977 under the government led by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The textbook describes the Emergency as a period during which democratic institutions came under severe strain, fundamental rights were suspended, press censorship was imposed and numerous political leaders and activists were arrested. It explains that civil liberties were significantly restricted during this period while also highlighting that India's democratic institutions eventually demonstrated resilience when elections were held after the Emergency was lifted.

The chapter further discusses the political circumstances leading up to the Emergency, including economic challenges, rising inflation, unemployment and nationwide protests led by socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan. According to the textbook, the subsequent general election and change in government reflected the strength of India's democratic framework and constitutional safeguards.

Preamble No Longer Included

Unlike the previous Class 9 Political Science textbook, the revised edition does not reproduce the Preamble to the Constitution or explain the meanings of key constitutional terms such as "Sovereign", "Socialist", "Secular", "Democratic" and "Republic".

Earlier editions introduced students to the Constitution through a chapter dedicated to Constitutional Design, where the Preamble served as the foundation for explaining India's democratic philosophy and constitutional values. The revised textbook instead discusses constitutional development through the Constituent Assembly, democratic institutions, fundamental rights and governance without reproducing the text of the Preamble.

A review of the new textbook also indicates that the words "secular" and "secularism" are absent from the volume, leading to criticism from opposition parties that important constitutional concepts have been omitted from the curriculum.

Political Reactions Intensify

The revisions have immediately become the subject of political debate.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the inclusion of the Emergency chapter, stating that younger generations should understand what he described as one of the darkest periods in India's democratic history. According to him, studying the Emergency is important for strengthening awareness about constitutional values and democratic institutions.

On the other hand, Congress leaders criticized the changes, alleging that the curriculum revisions reflect political motivations rather than purely academic considerations. Several opposition leaders argued that history and constitutional education should be presented in a balanced manner without selectively emphasizing particular events.

Leaders from other political parties also expressed differing opinions, with some defending the inclusion of the Emergency while questioning the omission of the Preamble and related constitutional terminology.

Changes Beyond the Emergency Chapter

Apart from introducing the Emergency, the revised textbook also restructures several sections dealing with constitutional institutions.

The treatment of the Election Commission of India has been modified. Earlier editions extensively discussed the constitutional body's independence, powers and role in ensuring free and fair elections, including its authority to enforce the Model Code of Conduct and order re-polling when necessary.

The revised textbook instead focuses primarily on the Election Commission's constitutional responsibilities and its role in conducting elections across the world's largest democracy, while placing comparatively less emphasis on its institutional powers.

The integrated textbook combines content from history, geography, political science and economics into a single volume as part of NCERT's broader curriculum reforms under NEP 2020.

NCERT's Approach to Curriculum Reform

According to the foreword accompanying the revised textbook, the objective of the new curriculum is to encourage students to think critically about society, governance, culture, the environment and human relationships. The revised framework seeks to provide interdisciplinary learning while promoting analytical thinking rather than relying solely on memorization.

NCERT has been gradually implementing revised textbooks for different classes under the National Education Policy and the National Curriculum Framework. The Class 9 textbook forms part of the next phase of this nationwide curriculum transition.

Debate Over Education and History

The latest textbook revisions have once again highlighted the continuing national debate over how history, constitutional values and political developments should be presented in school education.

Supporters argue that introducing students to the Emergency at an earlier stage helps strengthen democratic awareness by examining one of the country's most significant constitutional challenges. Critics, however, contend that omitting the Preamble and references to secularism may create gaps in students' understanding of India's constitutional philosophy.

Education experts note that curriculum revisions often generate public discussion because school textbooks play a significant role in shaping students' understanding of history, governance and democratic institutions. They emphasize that educational material should encourage informed debate while presenting historical developments within their broader constitutional context.

As the revised textbooks begin reaching classrooms across the country, discussions surrounding curriculum content are expected to continue. While supporters view the changes as necessary modernization under the National Education Policy, critics believe additional clarity may be needed regarding the treatment of key constitutional concepts. The debate reflects the broader importance attached to school education in shaping future generations' understanding of India's democratic institutions, constitutional framework and political history.