Northeast history, culture now part of new NCERT textbooks, Centre tells Parliament

New NCERT textbooks now include the history, culture and heritage of India's Northeast, the Union government told Parliament on Friday. The disclosure comes as part of the ongoing revision of school curriculum, aimed at presenting a more inclusive picture of the country's diverse regions.

Responding to a question in Parliament, the minister said the revised syllabus ensures that students across the country learn about the Northeast's contributions to India's freedom struggle, its diverse tribal traditions, and its unique artistic and architectural heritage. The minister did not specify the exact chapters or classes but indicated that the content is woven into the social science and history sections from middle to senior school levels.

Balanced representation in syllabus

The move is part of the government's broader effort to "decolonise" the curriculum and give equal weightage to all regions, the minister added. Earlier, the Northeast was often reduced to a footnote in textbooks, with limited mention beyond geographical boundaries or occasional references to insurgency. The new books aim to correct that imbalance, officials said.

Educators and regional historians have long demanded that the Northeast's role in the national narrative be acknowledged. From the 1857 uprising's echoes in the region to the lesser-known stories of tribal resistance against colonial rule, the new chapters are expected to bring these narratives into mainstream classrooms.

Reception and criticism

The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. While many welcomed the inclusion, some academics have questioned the depth and accuracy of the content, pointing out that a single chapter cannot do justice to the region's complexity. Others have asked for greater consultation with local historians and community representatives during the drafting process.

Officials, however, maintain that the new books were prepared after consultations with subject experts from the region. They added that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has also incorporated feedback from state governments and teachers' organisations.

Broader curriculum overhaul

The textbook revision is part of a larger exercise aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. Besides the Northeast, the new books also feature expanded sections on tribal histories, environmental movements, and regional folk traditions. The government has said the changes are intended to make learning more relatable for students in every part of the country.

Some states, however, have raised concerns about the pace and manner of the changes, with a few choosing to retain their own textbooks. The Centre has clarified that states are free to adapt the NCERT material, but the revised books are expected to be widely adopted in the coming academic session.

As the new academic year approaches, schools across the country will begin using the updated textbooks. The real test, educators say, will be in how these chapters are taught — and whether students in the Northeast finally see their own history reflected in the pages they study.