Preamble 'removed from textbooks'; NCERT says allegations do not have sound basis

The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) has reacted sharply over the allegations of removal of the Preamble to the Constitution from several Class 3 and 6 textbooks issued this year as reported in several media.

In its official X handle, NCERT said that “The allegations regarding the removal of the Preamble from the NCERT textbooks do not have a sound basis.”

The NCERT further wrote for the first time the Council is giving great importance to various facets of the Indian Constitution- the Preamble, Fundamental Duties, Fundamental Rights and the National Anthem. All these are being placed in various textbooks of various stages.

“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,” posted NCERT.

NCERT Clarifies….

The new textbooks of NCERT developed as a follow-up of the NEP 2020, also include these matters related to our Constitution once or multiple times in one or other textbooks either in one Grade or at one stage.

One matter does not replace another and is given space in textbooks of one Grade or of one stage, either once or multiple times.

In Grades 1 and 2, Preamble has been included in language textbooks- Mridang.

Further, in Grade 3, the National Anthem has been included in all other textbooks except Arts which have Fundamental Duties.

In Grades 4 and 5, Fundamental Rights and the Preamble will again find place multiple times along with Fundamental Duties and National Anthem.

In Grade 6, the Preamble finds a place in Science, the Hindi language, and Physical Education and Well-being- all three compulsory and core academic subjects.