The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has initiated a major overhaul of the senior secondary social science curriculum by forming a new 20-member committee to draft updated Political Science textbooks for Class 11 and Class 12. Officially constituted on August 14, this new panel replaces a previous drafting team that had been set up in June 2025. The decision to disband the former committee followed widespread controversy over a chapter on the Judiciary in the Class 8 textbook. Details regarding the composition of the newly formed team reveal that at least four of its members have documented associations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or its affiliated organizations.
Background and Profiles of RSS-Linked Panel Members
Among the key figures appointed to the textbook committee are individuals with notable ties to RSS-aligned bodies and political advisory roles. Yadunath Deshpande has previously held key organizational positions within the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which is widely recognized as the student wing of the RSS. His professional profile also highlights past work as a political advisor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Another appointee, Dr. Prashant Divekar, leads teacher education and research initiatives at Jnana Prabodhini in Pune. This institution has historical ties to former RSS pracharak Vinayak Vishwanath.
Prominent JNU Faculty Appointments
The committee also includes two academic scholars from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Professor Vandana Mishra, who currently teaches at JNU, formerly served as the national secretary of the ABVP. Joining her is Dr. Ravi Ramchandra Shukla, who is also a faculty member at JNU. Dr. Shukla serves on the editorial board of a journal published by Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, an organization closely associated with the RSS network. The inclusion of these academics highlights a shift in the drafting body's ideological and academic perspective.
Emphasis on the Indian Knowledge System
NCERT has directed the new committee to ensure that the upcoming Class 11 and 12 Political Science textbooks place significant emphasis on the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) and indigenous cultural heritage. To achieve this integration, the panel will engage in active consultations with specialized NCERT departments that handle social sciences, Indian languages, environmental studies, pedagogical research, and IKS frameworks. Furthermore, once individual chapters are drafted, a designated Textbook Core Group will thoroughly review the manuscripts to evaluate how effectively Indian perspectives and traditional knowledge structures have been embedded into the lesson plans.
Leadership Structure and Publication Deadlines
The 20-member curriculum committee is headed by Chief Coordinator Professor Sandeep Shastri from Nitte University. Dr. Vanthangpui Khobung serves as a committee member, while Dr. Subhash Singh has been appointed as the project coordinator. NCERT has set clear deadlines for the completion of the revised textbooks. The target date for finishing the Class 11 Political Science textbook is November 30, 2026. Meanwhile, the manuscript for the Class 12 Political Science textbook is scheduled to be completed by July 30, 2027.
