NCERT Forms New Political Science Textbook Team; 4 Members Linked To RSS

NEW DELHI: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has restructured the committee responsible for creating political science textbooks for Classes XI and XII, assembling a diverse group of university academics, schoolteachers, and NCERT employees. The initial textbook is set to be completed by November 2026, while the second will be ready by July 2027.

The 20-member panel comprises faculty members from esteemed institutions such as JNU, Delhi University, Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou), National Law University Delhi, Jindal Global Law School, Pondicherry University, and Utkal University. Additionally, the panel includes schoolteachers and NCERT academics. Notably, at least four members have connections to organizations associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

These individuals include Vandana Mishra, a former ABVP national secretary and JNU professor; Yadunath Deshpande, an educationist with ties to ABVP and a BJP political consultant; Prashant Divekar from Pune-based Jnana Prabodhini; and Ravi Rameshchandra Shukla, a JNU academic associated with an editorial board linked to the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership.

The Textbook Development Team, led by Sandeep Shastri, vice-president of Nitte (Deemed to be University), has been tasked with finalizing the Class XI textbook by November 30, 2026, and the Class XII book by July 30, 2027. The team will adhere to the guidelines set forth in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023, and incorporate themes such as cultural rootedness, inclusion, educational technology, assessment, and Indian Knowledge Systems. The final teaching-learning material will be approved, published, and distributed by NCERT.