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NCERT Defends Renaming of Textbooks as Decolonization Effort

The council clarifies that new titles reflect India’s cultural heritage and are not indicative of a Hindi language preference, responding to criticism from southern states.

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An NCERT official said the new textbook titles have not been picked because of linguistic considerations. (HT PHOTO)
The NCERT said that due consideration has been given to culturally resonant names such as Ganita Prakash, Kaushal Bodh, and Khel Yatra. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Overview

  • NCERT has renamed English-medium textbooks with Indian-language titles like Santoor and Ganita Prakash as part of the National Education Policy 2020's decolonization strategy.
  • Kerala and Tamil Nadu leaders have criticized the move, alleging it undermines linguistic diversity and imposes Hindi dominance, while NCERT denies such intent.
  • The council clarified that the titles are drawn from diverse Indian languages and cultural traditions to foster inclusivity and pedagogical engagement.
  • New textbooks for classes 1–2 were introduced in 2023–24, and for classes 4–8 earlier this year, with plans to roll out updates for classes 9–12 by the 2026–27 academic session.
  • Demand for NCERT textbooks has surged, with over 59 million copies sold in 2024–25, reflecting the broad adoption of the updated curriculum.