After Gandhi And Mughals, NCERT Drops Periodic Table, Democracy From Class 10 Textbooks

In a fresh move of removal of texts, NCERT has now dropped the Periodic Table and Democracy from Class 10 textbooks.

NCERT Drops Periodic Table, Democracy From Class 10 Books ( Image Source :Getty )

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has now removed topics such as the Chemistry Periodic Table, and ‘Democracy’ from Class 10 textbooks. The move comes as the latest revisions in NCERT textbooks under its ‘rationalism’ process to cut down syllabus and ease burden on students. As part of its new syllabus revision, NCERT has removed complete chapters on the topics. However, students who opt to study Chemistry in class 9 and 10 will be taught the Periodic Table. Moreover, candidates who pick a relevant subject in Class 11 and 12, will also be taught about the chapters and topics on the periodic classification of elements. 

Notably, in a series of syllabus revision this year, the NCERT has removed several chapters and topics from its textbooks. Earlier this year, the NCERT has already removed chapters like Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution from Class 9 and 10 Science textbooks. Perhaps, what created the most buzz was the removal of texts on Gandhi, Mughal History, Hindu-Muslim Unity, and RSS Ban from Class 12 Political Science textbooks. The NCERT also removed some sections on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad from Class 11 Political Science textbooks. 

The ommission of texts and chapters FROM ncert textbooks has also created huge waves in the political corridoors. The opposition parties have accused the NCERT of allegedly removing texts from books following the directions of the Union government. Earlier in April last month, senior Congress leader attacked the NCERT revisions. “This reveals the ruling regime's TRUE mindset. After all, the RSS had not only attacked Gandhi but had been bitterly opposed to Dr. Ambedkar as well,” Jairam Ramesh tweeted through his official Twitter handle. 

CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam also wrote to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over "drastic changes" made to NCERT textbooks as part of "rationalising” exercise and urged him to take necessary action. 

Meanwhile, NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani, refuting all allegations, said earlier that: ‘changes have not been made to please or offend anyone.’ He further underlined that the NCERT is planning to introduce new textbooks for all classes, following the guidelines of the National Education Policy (NEP).