Delhi govt schools to teach RSS history under new ‘Rashtraneeti’ curriculum
New Delhi: Students in Delhi government schools will soon be introduced to a new chapter on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as part of a civic education initiative under the 'Rashtraneeti' programme, Education Minister Ashish Sood announced on Tuesday.
"The chapter on RSS is being added under this programme to inculcate civic and social consciousness among students and to bring Fundamental Duties into focus," said Sood.
The programme, aimed at promoting civic awareness, ethical governance, and national pride, will be rolled out across Classes 1 to 12. It forms part of a broader educational revamp introduced under the ‘Namo Vidya Utsav’, launched by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on 18 September at Bharat Mandapam.
What will the chapter include?
As part of the new curriculum, students will study the origin and history of the RSS, its ideological foundations, and its role in both India’s freedom struggle and social service activities. According to a source cited by PTI, the lessons are also intended to “address misconceptions about the organisation.”
The chapter will highlight RSS involvement in relief efforts during disasters such as the Kedarnath and Bihar floods, blood donation drives, food distribution, and Covid-19 pandemic relief work. It will also include references to key historical moments and the organisation’s founding by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925 in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
The curriculum will also include profiles of prominent leaders associated with the RSS, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A dedicated section will feature lesser-known freedom fighters and nationalist leaders, such as Veer Savarkar, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
A source involved in the development of the programme stated, “This course is being introduced across all classes to give students practical exposure to governance, democracy and active citizenship.”
Teacher handbooks for the new subject matter have already been prepared, and training is underway through the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). Final decisions on class-specific content and detailed curriculum structure are still being deliberated.
The Rashtraneeti programme is one of three new curricula unveiled by the Delhi government this academic year, alongside ongoing efforts to integrate value-based learning and nation-building into school education.
(PTI)