The Supreme Court intervened against NCERT textbook inaccuracies. This raises questions about protecting vulnerable communities' dignity in educational materials. UPSC examines social justice and constitutional values.
The Supreme Court of India recently took suo motu action (action on its own initiative, without waiting for a petition) against an NCERT textbook passage that allegedly portrayed judicial corruption. This intervention has raised an important constitutional question: If courts can protect their own institutional dignity, should the same protection extend to vulnerable communities?
NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) designs and publishes textbooks used across Indian schools. These textbooks shape how millions of students understand Indian history, society, and values.
Recent changes to NCERT textbooks have removed or diluted references to contested historical events:
| Event/Topic | Change Made |
|---|---|
| Gujarat riots | References dropped from Class 12 Political Science textbooks |
| Babri Masjid demolition | References first diluted, then removed |
| Mughal period | Treatment significantly reduced |
| Caste struggles and Dalit assertion | Content pared down; texture and nuance diminished |
The article raises a critical issue:
The Constitution does not recognise hierarchies of dignity. If institutional dignity must be protected, should community dignity receive equal protection?
This is not a partisan issue—it is a structural constitutional question about the relationship between education and honesty.
Textbooks do more than convey facts; they:
The Problem of Partial Truths:
Multiple constitutional provisions support the principle of community dignity:
| Constitutional Provision | What It Guarantees |
|---|---|
| Preamble | Fraternity assuring dignity of the individual |
| Article 14 | Equality before the law |
| Article 15 | Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, caste, language, region |
| Article 21 | Right to life and liberty (expansively interpreted to include dignity) |
| Article 51A(e) | Duty to promote harmony and common brotherhood |
Key Concept: Fraternity
The Indian Penal Code (IPC) contains provisions that criminalize vilification and hate speech:
| IPC Section | What It Prohibits |
|---|---|
| Section 153A | Promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, caste, language |
| Section 153B | Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration |
| Section 295A | Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings |
| Section 505 | Statements creating public alarm or inciting communal violence |
The Problem: These provisions exist and are clear, but their enforcement has been uneven. The law acts decisively when institutions are maligned but hesitates when communities are stereotyped.
A critical gap exists between:
The Danger: If courts protect institutional dignity but hesitate to protect community dignity with equal urgency, this creates an unintended hierarchy of concern. This asymmetry actually weakens institutions by eroding the moral coherence of the constitutional order.
The Court's intervention should mark a turning point:
Constitutional Values and Dignity:
Education and Social Justice:
Institutional Accountability:
Hate Speech and Vilification:
Constitutional Coherence:
Dignity is indivisible under the Indian Constitution—it applies to institutions and communities equally.
Fraternity (Article Preamble) is a foundational value that binds liberty and equality; without it, both become hollow.
Textbooks are not neutral—they shape civic imagination through what they include, emphasize, and omit.
Partial truths (selective representation) can be more dangerous than outright falsehoods because they harden into prejudice.
Selective vigilance (protecting some groups but not others) weakens the moral authority of the constitutional order.
Statutory provisions against vilification exist (IPC Sections 153A, 153B, 295A, 505), but enforcement must be consistent and equal.
The Supreme Court's intervention signals a potential shift toward consistent application of constitutional values across institutions and communities.
Q1. In which year were references to the Gujarat riots dropped from Class 12 Political Science textbooks by NCERT?
The references to the Gujarat riots were dropped from Class 12 Political Science textbooks in 2022-23. Option at index 0 (2021-22) is incorrect as it is the year prior to the change. Option at index 1 (2023-24) is incorrect as it is the year after the change. Option at index 3 (2020-21) is incorrect as it is two years prior to the change.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the revisions of NCERT textbooks: 1. In the academic year 2022-23, references to the Gujarat riots were removed from Class 12 Political Science textbooks. 2. The treatment of caste struggles and Dalit assertion was expanded, with much of its earlier texture and nuance enhanced. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The option at index 0 is correct because statement 1 is accurate; references to the Gujarat riots were indeed dropped from Class 12 Political Science textbooks in 2022-23. The option at index 1 is incorrect because statement 2 is false; the treatment of caste struggles and Dalit assertion was pared down, not expanded, in the revisions.