Opposition questions NCERT panel’s composition, flags RSS, ABVP links

In practice, the reconstitution of the National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) Textbook Development Team for Class 11 and 12 Political Science has triggered a fresh political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the Centre of turning the premier educational body into an "ideological laboratory."

Key points

• The Congress has described the move as "Sanghikaran", alleging that educational content is being reshaped along ideological lines.
• The controversy centres on fears that ideological affiliations could influence the way political science and constitutional problems are presented to school students.
• The NCP (SP) and other opposition voices have similarly questioned whether the reconstituted panel will maintain academic neutrality while revising textbooks.

Notably, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), along with the Congress and student organisation National Students' Union of India (NSUI), has triggered concern over the composition of the newly formed 20-member panel. Opposition leaders allege that at least four members have direct or indirect links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

For context, the controversy centres on fears that ideological affiliations could influence the way political science and constitutional problems are presented to school students. Critics have particularly expressed concern over the treatment of subjects such as secularism, federalism, fundamental rights, democracy and social justice.

Meanwhile, the Congress has described the move as "Sanghikaran", alleging that educational content is being reshaped along ideological lines. Party leaders have additionally employed the phrase "Nagpur Coterie for Educational Rewriting and Trouble-making", referring to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.

For context, the NCP (SP) and other opposition voices have similarly questioned whether the reconstituted panel will maintain academic neutrality while revising textbooks. They argue that political science textbooks have a particularly significant role in shaping students' understanding of India's Constitution, democratic institutions and the country's pluralistic traditions.

Notably, the controversy comes against the backdrop of wider political debates over revisions to NCERT textbooks and allegations by opposition parties that changes to educational material under the current administration have sought to alter the interpretation of India's modern history and political development.

For now, opposition questions NCERT panel's composition, flags RSS, ABVP links remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.