New Delhi, June 25: Nearly five decades after the imposition of the Emergency in India, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has included this significant topic in the Class 9 Social Science textbook for the first time. The new book, titled “Understanding Society: India and Beyond,” presents the Emergency as a major challenge faced by Indian democracy.
According to NCERT officials, this is the first instance where Class 9 students will study the history and impacts of the Emergency in detail. This change comes as the country marks the 50th anniversary of the Emergency declared in 1975.
The chapter, which focuses on the achievements and challenges of democracy, discusses the political and social circumstances that led to the declaration of a national Emergency in June 1975.
The textbook notes that rising unemployment, inflation, and dissatisfaction with governance in the early 1970s contributed to widespread protests and political unrest across the country. Against this backdrop, the national Emergency was declared on the grounds of “internal disturbance” in June 1975.
It explains that for 21 months, numerous constitutional freedoms were suspended. Press censorship was enforced, and many opposition leaders and social activists were detained. During this period, pressure on democratic institutions increased, impacting citizens’ rights and freedoms.
The role of the prominent leader and social reformer Jayaprakash Narayan, known as Lok Nayak, is also highlighted in the textbook. It notes that he united students, youth, and ordinary citizens against the Emergency, particularly through movements in Bihar and Gujarat, which strengthened the demand for democratic reforms.
The book further states that after the Emergency ended in 1977, general elections were held. The election results demonstrated the resilience of Indian democracy, as voters expressed their opinions and facilitated political change.
In addition to the Emergency, the new textbook addresses contemporary challenges to democracy, such as fake news, misinformation, poverty, regional divisions, social discrimination, and gender inequality. A new section titled “Democracy and You” has been added to familiarize students with democratic values and the role of responsible citizenship.
The textbook also covers important topics such as India’s democratic institutions, the media’s role as the fourth pillar of democracy, the voting process, voter participation, the Panchayati Raj system, women’s voting rights, and reservations in local bodies.
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