No Mughals or Delhi Sultanate in new NCERT Class 7 textbooks, focus shifts to ancient India

_{In a major shift for the 2025-26 academic session, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has revamped the Class 7 Social Science curriculum, removing chapters related to the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire. The new textbook instead focuses on ancient Indian dynasties, cultural traditions, and pilgrimage sites.}

_{Students will now study from a unified textbook titled Exploring Society – India and Beyond (Part 1). This single volume replaces the earlier division of History, Geography, and Civics into separate books. Part 2 of the book, covering the remaining syllabus, is expected later this year, though it remains unclear if medieval history topics will be restored.}

_{The history section in the new book ends with the Gupta Empire, spanning the 3rd to 6th centuries AD. It focuses heavily on the Mauryan Empire, the rule of Ashoka, and important ancient dynasties like the Shungas, Satavahanas, Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras. The Delhi Sultans and Mughals, who once formed a significant part of the medieval history syllabus, are not mentioned.}

_{New chapters have been added, including :How the Land Becomes Sacred', which explores pilgrimage traditions across Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism. Special focus has been given to the Maha Kumbh Mela, highlighting its scale with 660 million participants, although details of past incidents like the 2013 stampede are omitted.}

_{The curriculum also emphasizes India's traditional knowledge systems. Students will now learn about Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Panini’s work on grammar, Aryabhata’s contributions to astronomy, and the scientific achievements during the Gupta period. Sanskrit words are presented with diacritical marks for accurate pronunciation.}

_{The move has sparked controversy, with critics alleging a deliberate political push to alter historical narratives. NCERT officials clarified that Part 1 is not the complete syllabus and that further updates will follow, but they did not confirm whether the missing medieval history content would be reintroduced.}