NCERT Clarifies: Preamble Not Removed from Class 9 Textbook, Redistributed Across Grades

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has refuted claims that the Preamble to the Indian Constitution was removed from the new Class 9 Social Science textbook. According to sources cited by news agency ANI, the curriculum has been redesigned under the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF), with topics redistributed across grades instead of being confined to a single textbook.

NCERT sources stated that the Preamble continues to appear in the opening pages of all new NCERT textbooks, including social science books. It is also part of the Grade 10 syllabus. The sources emphasized that constitutional values—such as secularism, justice, liberty, and socialism—are already introduced in Grades 6 to 8, particularly in the Grade 7 social science textbook, and will be covered in greater detail in Grade 10.

The clarification comes amid sharp criticism from opposition parties, who accused the government of removing references to 'secular' and 'secularism' from the revised Class 9 textbook. Among the notable changes in the new edition is the omission of the Preamble from the introductory chapter on the Constitution, as well as the removal of specific mentions of 'secular' and 'secularism' from the primary text.

NCERT has introduced a broader discussion on constitutional values, institutions, and governance, aligning the subject with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's integrated learning approach. The revised book, titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond, also includes a chapter on the 1975–77 Emergency for the first time in a Class 9 textbook, expands lessons on India's electoral system and democratic institutions, and warns against counterfeit textbooks.

The new curriculum aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of India's constitutional framework and democratic processes, reflecting a shift towards interdisciplinary learning rather than rote memorisation of specific texts.