NCERT Curriculum Revision: Focus on Medieval Indian History and Regional Resistance

Key Highlights & Summary 

• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) released a new Class 9 Social Science textbook titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond - Part Two. 

 • The new textbook replaces chapters on European revolutions, such as the French and Russian Revolutions, with content focusing on medieval Indian history and indigenous sovereignty.  

• It details Indian responses to foreign expansionist powers between 1,000 CE and 1,700 CE, citing territorial expansion, religious motives, and economic surplus as primary drivers of invasions.  

• The chapter titled \'Resistance and Resilience\' covers the relation between the Mughal state and Sikh Gurus, noting executions and detentions that led to collective armed resistance.  

• Regional resistance movements, including the Jat Uprising of 1669 driven by heavy Mughal taxation and religious policies, are given dedicated coverage. 

 • The text traces the evolution of Sikh military confederacies, including Guru Hargobind\'s establishment of the Akal Takht. 

 Essential Definitions

 • Akal Takht: A temporal seat of authority established by Guru Hargobind, symbolizing the military and political empowerment of the Sikh community. 

 • Iqta System: An agrarian revenue-cum-administrative system prevalent during the Delhi Sultanate, where revenue rights were granted in exchange for military or administrative service. 

 • Doab: A geographic region lying between two converging rivers; specifically, the GangaYamuna Doab mentioned in the context of the 1669 Jat peasant rebellion.  

Legal and Constitutional Framework  

• Article 351 (Directive for Development of the Hindi Language/Cultural Heritage): Supports the promotion of indigenous history and heritage in educational frameworks.

 • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Emphasizes rooting the school curriculum in the Indian context, ethos, and local historical narratives to foster national identity and critical awareness. 

• Entry 25, Concurrent List (Seventh Schedule): Grants both the Parliament and State Legislatures the power to legislate on Education, forming the jurisdictional basis for NCERT\'s curriculum updates.

 Conclusion 

The curriculum update by NCERT reflects a strategic paradigm shift toward a subcontinental, resistance-focused narrative of medieval history. By highlighting local confederacies, socio-economic factors behind peasant uprisings, and indigenous statecraft, the revised text aims to present a balanced view of historical resilience alongside global events. 

UPSC Relevance

 • GS Paper I (History & Culture): Medieval Indian History, socio-religious movements, regional kingdoms, and agrarian revolts against central authority.

 • GS Paper II (Governance & Education): Implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, institutional role of NCERT, and legislative divisions under the Concurrent List.