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Unlike the previous NCERT political science textbook, it does not contain the Preamble or explain terms such as “Sovereign”, “Socialist”, “Secular”, “Democratic” and “Republic”.
The earlier NCERT textbook had an entire chapter on the Constitution and described the Preamble as the philosophical foundation of the document. (AI Generated Image)
NCERT’s new Class 9 Social Science textbook has eliminated the Preamble and references to “secular” while introducing a chapter on the 1975–77 Emergency. Unlike the previous Class 9 political science textbook, it does not contain the Preamble or explain terms such as “Sovereign”, “Socialist”, “Secular”, “Democratic” and “Republic”.
The earlier textbook, Democratic Politics-I, had an entire chapter dedicated to the Constitution and described the Preamble as the philosophical foundation of the document. It also explained secularism as a system in which the state has no official religion and treats all religions equally.
In the new textbook, the Constitution is presented as a “robust, flexible, transformative, and responsive” document, with emphasis on liberty, equality, justice, fraternity and Fundamental Rights, reported Hindustan Times.
Released under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, the revised textbook discusses the Constitution through its making, democratic institutions and Fundamental Rights.
Introduction of Emergency
The revised textbook also introduces the Emergency for the first time in the Class 9 curriculum. A chapter titled “Challenges to Democratic Practices in India” states that a National Emergency was imposed in June 1975 on the grounds of internal disturbance. It says that during the period, many Fundamental Rights were suspended, the press was censored, political leaders and activists were arrested, democratic institutions came under severe strain and citizens’ freedoms were restricted.
Election Commission Chapter Revised
The treatment of the Election Commission has also been revised. While the earlier Class 9 textbook highlighted the Commission’s independence and extensive powers, including enforcing the Model Code of Conduct and ordering re-polls, the new textbook focuses mainly on its constitutional responsibility to supervise, direct and control elections.
Education Minister Welcomed Introduction of Emergency Chapter
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the inclusion of the Emergency, saying future generations should understand the “dark deeds” committed during that period.
‘Emergency’ is a dark chapter in India’s democratic history, which the country can never forget. In the interest of power and family, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Congress attacked the Constitution, democracy and civil rights on 25 June 1975. But the democratic power of the country has stopped the dictatorial thinking… pic.twitter.com/bH4a2z4Rfg— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) June 25, 2026
The 220-page textbook, Understanding Society: India and Beyond – Part 1, replaces separate textbooks for history, geography, political science and economics and will be introduced for Class 9 students from the 2026–27 academic session as part of NCERT’s curriculum overhaul under NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023.
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