NCERT Class 8 social science textbook flags Mughal ‘brutality’ with disclaimer

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced Class 8 social science textbooks for students in the current academic year 2025-26. The new textbooks portray Mughal rulers, especially Babur, Akhbar, and Aurangzeb eras as ‘brutal and ruthless’, and point out several ‘religious intolerant’ instances during the period, along with a disclaimer.

According to The Hindu reports, the second chapter of the textbook, titled ‘Reshaping India’s Political Map in Theme B - Tapestry of the Past’ includes references from Baburnama, Babur’s autobiography, describing him ‘curious’ and having an appreciation for poetry, flora, and fauna. The books also say Babur was a ruthless conqueror, enslaving both women and children.

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'Disclaimer' in NCERT textbooks

According to The Hindu reports, Michel Danino the head of NCERT’s Curricular Area Group for Social Science said: “Indian history cannot be cannot sanitised and presented as a smooth, happy development throughout. There were bright periods but also dark periods where people suffered, so we have given note on the darker chapters of history, and also given a disclaimer that no one today should be regarded as responsible for whatever happened in the past,”

He further added: “You cannot understand them (the Mughal emperors) unless you go into the complexities of their personalities. Akbar himself admits he was brutal in his younger days. We are not demonising Akbar or Aurangzeb, but we have to show these rulers had their limitations and committed cruel deeds,”

NCERT new textbooks are expected to reflect NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023 and are not only based on a new approach but also a new syllabus, design, and pedagogical tools. Any comparison with the old syllabus and textbooks is therefore not required. Till now, new books for Classes 1 to 4 and Classes 7 to 7 have been issued and textbooks for Class 5 and 8 are being made available now, as per The Indian Express reports.

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NCERT social science books

One part of the previously issued Class 7 social science textbook in April entailed the pre-Delhi Sultanate era of the 6th century, there was an element of uncertainty on how the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal era would be included in new books. However, earlier, the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal history section was included in Class 7 textbooks, which has now been included in Class 8 textbooks.

According to the NCERT officials, the first part of the Class 8 textbook has combined history, geography, civics, and economics into one title, ‘Exploring Society: India and Beyond’, which will serve as a source for the first six months, and part two of the textbook will be published later this year.