Overview
- The Directorate of School Education Kashmir issued a circular dated July 6 directing heads of government and recognised private schools and coaching centres to screen all books, classrooms, staff rooms and offices and to submit compliance certificates and itemised reports on a staggered schedule ending July 19.
- The audit follows the withdrawal of two Samagra Shiksha titles that reportedly used terms like “India‑occupied Kashmir” and praised separatist figures; authorities recalled about 251 copies, suspended eight education officials, blacklisted the authors and publishers, and the Counter Intelligence wing filed an FIR under UAPA and conducted raids.
- The drive covers roughly 10,787 government and 2,386 recognised private schools in the Kashmir division and has been matched by reviews at the University of Kashmir, where more than 50 departments are already screening departmental and central library holdings.
- Local politicians, university scholars and religious leaders say the fast, vague review process is prompting self‑censorship, the removal of scholarly works and a narrowing of research resources for students and faculty.
- Officials say the exercise enforces NEP‑2020 age‑guidelines and national‑interest tests while warning of disciplinary action for non‑compliance; observers say this extends a pattern that began with a ban on 25 books in August 2025 and could reshape how Kashmir’s recent history is taught and researched.