New Delhi, June 25: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has made a significant update to the Class 9 social science syllabus by including a section on the Emergency period of 1975-1977. This change is part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 initiative.
The new textbook titled “Understanding Society: India and Beyond” describes the Emergency as one of the greatest challenges faced by Indian democracy. An NCERT official confirmed that this is the first time a separate section on the Emergency has been added to the Class 9 curriculum.
This update comes as the country recently commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Emergency declaration by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on May 25, 1975.
The textbook highlights the growing public dissatisfaction with the Indira Gandhi government in the early 1970s, citing issues such as unemployment, inflation, and mismanagement that led to widespread protests. Consequently, a national Emergency was declared in June 1975 due to internal unrest.
During this period, most fundamental rights were suspended, press censorship was imposed, and numerous political leaders and activists were arrested. The book notes that democratic institutions faced increased pressure, and individual freedoms were significantly curtailed.
Additionally, the role of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan is elaborated upon, detailing how he mobilized students and the public, leading to major movements in Bihar and Gujarat. The textbook also mentions that after the Emergency ended in 1977, general elections were held, resulting in the ruling government being voted out, which is presented as a testament to the resilience of Indian democracy.
Besides the Emergency, the syllabus addresses other contemporary challenges to democracy, including fake news, misinformation, vandalism, poverty, regionalism, social discrimination, and gender inequality.
For the first time, NCERT has introduced a new section titled “Democracy and You,” aimed at helping students understand their role in the democratic process.
The textbook places a strong emphasis on India’s democratic traditions and institutions, highlighting the long-standing culture of democratic thinking and participation. It also includes a dedicated section on the media, describing it as the “fourth pillar” of democracy, essential for voicing public concerns and safeguarding democratic values.
To illustrate the structure of Indian democracy, the book presents electoral statistics, noting that there were over 968 million registered voters in 2024, along with a discussion of the extensive network of polling stations across the country. Local examples of democracy, such as a panchayat in Gujarat and a women-friendly panchayat in Tripura, are also included, with a focus on women’s voting rights and reservations in local bodies.