New Delhi: Continuing its controversial reforms in the textbooks, the NCERT has made more omissions and additions pertaining to the origin of Harappan Civilisation, settlement of Aryans in India, history of Birsa Munda and Nayanars from the history and sociology textbooks of classes 7th to 12th. The changes were made as part of the 2024-25 education reforms. The drafts of the reformed textbooks were handed over to the CBSE.

The main change is made in the lesson ‘Bricks, Beads and Bones’ on origin and downfall of the Harappan Civilisation from ‘Themes in India History Part-1’ history text of the 12th standard. Claiming that some studies on an ancient DNA, found from Raghigad in Haryana, had no trace of Aryan genes, a portion was added stating that more studies have to be done to prove if the Aryans had settled in India or not.

The significant omissions include portions on some communal riots from the lesson ‘Indian Society’ of 12th Standard Sociology textbook, and on Shiva devotees Nayanars from the lesson ‘Devotional paths to the Divine’ from seventh standard history textbook Our Past-2. 

The word ‘Hindu’ was removed from a sentence on Birsa Munda’s fight against missionaries and ‘Hindu’ landlords from the chapter ‘Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age’ from the sixth standard history textbook, giving an explanation that back then landlords belonged to different religions.

Changes were also made in portions on tribal fights for justice, and how they were pushed into extreme poverty in the name of the projects of Narmada Sarovar Dam and Godavari Polavaram Dam from the 12th standard Sociology textbook.