NCERT Revises Class 7 History Textbooks, Removes Mughal and Delhi Sultanate Content

New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has made major revisions to Class 7 history textbooks by removing all content related to the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate. This marks the first time such content has been entirely excluded, as part of NCERT’s broader curriculum revamp aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023.

In place of the removed chapters, the textbooks now focus on dynasties that reflect the “Indian ethos,” such as the Magadha, Mauryas, Shungas, and Satavahanas. New references to events like the Maha Kumbh and Union government initiatives have also been included. The changes follow previous syllabus rationalisation efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, which had only trimmed content on various Islamic dynasties like the Tughlaqs, Khaljis, Mamluks, and Lodis.

NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani stated in the textbook foreword that the revised content is “rooted in the Indian cultural context” while integrating global perspectives in an age-appropriate way. Historian Sanjeev Sanyal, viewed by some as aligned with Hindutva ideology, was reportedly part of the textbook development team.

The updated Class 7 Social Science textbook, titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond, emphasizes traditional Indian philosophies, indigenous knowledge systems, and a localized approach to education, in line with the NEP’s vision.