NCERT removes Preamble from Class 3, 6 textbooks; says fundamental duties, rights equally important

Responding to the allegations regarding the removal of the Preamble from textbooks, the NCERT said, "For the first time they are giving great importance to various facets of the Indian Constitution - Preamble, fundamental duties, fundamental rights and the National Anthem. All the aspects of the Indian Constitution are being placed in various textbooks of various stages".

Preamble in none of the new Class 3 textbooks

In none of the new Class 3 textbooks for Hindi, English, mathematics and World Around Us (which replaces EVS) has printed the Preamble. The old EVS book, Looking Around, and the Hindi book, Rimjhim 3, did have the Preamble.

In the old textbooks for Class 6, the Preamble was printed on one of the first few pages of the Hindi textbook 'Durva', the English book 'Honey Suckle', the science book and all three EVS books — 'Our Pasts-I', 'Social and Political Life-I', and 'The Earth Our Habitat'.

In the newly released textbooks, the Preamble appears only in the science book 'Curiosity' and the Hindi book 'Malhar'. Instead of three separate environmental studies books, NCERT has published a single book titled 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond', which does not include the Preamble but covers fundamental rights and duties.

Fundamental duties, rights and National Anthem 'equally important'

As per NCERT, students should not just limit their knowledge to the Preamble and should also acquire constitutional values from fundamental duties, fundamental rights and the National Anthem.

"The understanding that only the Preamble reflects the Constitution and constitutional values is flawed and narrow. Why should children not acquire constitutional values from fundamental duties, fundamental rights and National Anthem along with Preamble? We give equal importance to all of these for the holistic development of children following the vision of NEP 2020", NCERT added.