Archive · 20 Aug 2026
NCERT Reconstitutes Political Science Textbook Team Amid RSS Links
NCERT is creating new political science books for students in Classes 11 and 12.
Sandeep Shastri will lead the group writing the books.
The Class 11 book should be ready by November.
The Class 12 book should be ready by July next year.
NCERT says the books should include Indian knowledge systems and cultural ideas.
They should also discuss inclusion, technology and how students are assessed.
The group will consult people working on social science, languages and other subjects.
Reports say at least four team members have links to the RSS, ABVP or BJP.
These links have led to questions about the team’s composition.
NCERT has reconstituted its textbook development team for Classes 11 and 12 political science.
Academic and political analyst Sandeep Shastri will lead the team.
At least four members have documented links to the RSS, ABVP or BJP.
The Class 11 textbook is due by November, while the Class 12 book is due by July next year.
NCERT says the books will address cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems, inclusion, technology and assessment.
- Who
- NCERT, led by academic and political analyst Sandeep Shastri, and a team of academics, educationists, officials and teachers.
- What
- The team will develop new political science textbooks for Classes 11 and 12.
- When
- The report is dated August 19; the Class 11 textbook is due by November and the Class 12 textbook by July next year.
- Where
- The team includes members from NCERT and institutions including Nitte, Jawaharlal Nehru University, National Law University and other universities and schools.
- Why
- NCERT says the revision will integrate cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems, inclusion, educational technology, assessment, interdisciplinary connections and multilingual perspectives.
NCERT’s Stated Curriculum Goals
Concerns About Team Composition
Purpose of the revision
NCERT’s Stated Curriculum Goals
NCERT says the textbooks will incorporate cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems, inclusion, technology and assessment.
Concerns About Team Composition
The reports highlight that at least four team members have documented associations with the RSS, its affiliates or the BJP, prompting scrutiny of the panel’s composition.
Range of perspectives
NCERT’s Stated Curriculum Goals
The notification says the team will consult curricular groups on social science, languages, environmental education, pedagogy and teaching materials, while promoting interdisciplinarity and multilingual perspectives.
Concerns About Team Composition
The reported political and organisational backgrounds of some members have raised questions about whether the panel represents a sufficiently broad range of perspectives.
Content emphasis
NCERT’s Stated Curriculum Goals
NCERT describes the themes as cross-cutting educational elements to be reviewed across the textbooks.
Concerns About Team Composition
The articles note that some members have backgrounds or research connected to cultural and spiritual nationalism, which may influence attention given to those themes.
- Team leader
- Sandeep Shastri, vice president of Karnataka-based deemed university Nitte
- Class 11 deadline
- November
- Class 12 deadline
- July next year
- Reported affiliations
- At least four members have documented direct or indirect links to the RSS, ABVP or BJP
- Notification issuer
- NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani
- Member coordinator
- Vanthangpui Khobung; Subhash Singh is co-coordinator
- Curriculum themes
- Cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems, inclusion, educational technology and assessment
