Days after a controversy erupted over a chapter in the Class 3 textbook, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) issued a clarification saying that new textbooks have been issued replacing the 'controversial' subject.


The clarification came after a Khajuraho resident lodged a complaint alleging that a lesson "Chitthi Aayi Hai" in the NCERT Class 3 environmental studies textbook promoted "love jihad." The controversy, that started in Madhya Pradesh, also drew the attention of Bageshwar Dham’s Peethadhishwar, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, who expressed his concerns.


However, the NCERT said that the Environmental Studies subject has been replaced with a new subject- The World Around Us. The education agency also issued new textbooks after making changes. 


The recent news concerning a letter published in Grade 3 Textbook of Environmental Studies has no basis, the NCERT said in a statement on Thursday.


"As per the perspective of new National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, a new subject -The World Around Us has been introduced from Grade 3 onwards in the preparatory stage in place of Environmental Studies. This is an interdisciplinary area which provides focus on Environmental Education simultaneously taking care of development of basic competencies in Science and Social Science from Grade 3 onwards," the statement read. 


"NCERT has introduced new textbooks for this subject having a broader perspective, including social environment. Hence, instead of the old textbooks, a new one titled "Our Wonderous World" has been brought out for Class 3," it added.


NCERT urged all the schools to only use the new textbooks in Grades 1, 2, 3, and 6 published by the agency. 


"These textbooks are based on the National Education Policy 2020 and integrate cultural rootedness, multilingualism, experiential learning, and educational technology across subjects and grades. Details about the new textbooks and the modalities for implementing the new subject areas and textbooks are provided in an advisory sent to CBSE," it added.


The controversy was over Chapter 17 of the environmental studies textbook titled "Chitthi Aayi Hai". In the chapter, a girl named Reena invites her friend Ahmed to visit Agartala during the holidays. She also writes him a letter, which she signs off with, "Yours, Reena." This particular detail has raised concerns for Dr. Raghav Pathak, who has accused the lesson of promoting 'love jihad.'


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