The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced new Class 7 English and Social Science textbooks that place a stronger emphasis on India’s rich cultural heritage, sacred geography, and national initiatives. Released this week, the new content reflects the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which stresses education that is “strongly rooted in the Indian and local context and ethos.”
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimages in Focus
One of the standout additions in the new Social Science textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, is a dedicated chapter titled “How the Land Becomes Sacred.”
This chapter offers an expansive view of sacred places and pilgrimage traditions across major religions — including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. It discusses revered Indian pilgrimages such as the Char Dham Yatra, the Shakti Pithas, and the Jyotirlingas, while also touching upon sacred traditions in places like ancient Greece and New Zealand.
Importantly, the book introduces the concept of “sacred geography” — a network of holy sites spread across the Indian subcontinent. It describes how natural features like river confluences, mountains, and forests are celebrated as sacred spaces. Events such as the Kumbh Mela, which recently drew an estimated 660 million participants at Prayagraj, are highlighted for their cultural and spiritual significance, linking mythological narratives like the amrita manthana to modern practices.
A New Blend of History, Geography, and Civics
In a departure from earlier models where history, geography, and civics were taught as separate subjects, Exploring Society now integrates these disciplines into a single textbook.
The first part, released this month, covers topics ranging from the rise of janapadas and mahajanapadas, ancient dynasties like the Mauryas and Guptas, to an introduction to the Indian Constitution and types of governance.
The book also takes a nuanced view of social structures, acknowledging that while the varna-jati system initially contributed to societal stability, it later hardened into rigid hierarchies, particularly under colonial rule, leading to widespread inequalities.
The second part of the textbook is expected to be released later this year, according to officials.
‘Poorvi’ English Textbook Centers Indian Voices
The English textbook, titled Poorvi, is similarly steeped in Indian context.
Out of its 15 stories, poems, and narrative pieces, nine are by Indian authors or feature Indian settings. Works by Rabindranath Tagore, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and Ruskin Bond are included, alongside pieces highlighting Indian heroes like mountaineer Arunima Sinha and warrior queen Rani Abbakka.
By contrast, the older Class 7 English textbook, Honeycomb (published between 2006-07 under the National Curriculum Framework 2005), had 17 literary pieces, with only four contributions from Indian writers.
Rooted in NEP 2020 Vision
The rollout of these new textbooks for Classes 4, 5, 7, and 8 follows similar updates introduced for Classes 1 and 2 in 2023, and Classes 3 and 6 in 2024.
All textbooks are now aligned with the NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, which advocate bringing India’s diverse traditions, philosophies, and knowledge systems into the mainstream of school education.
When asked about the inclusion of sacred geography in the Social Science curriculum, Michel Danino, chairperson of the NCERT committee for Social Science, referred queries to NCERT officials. NCERT Director Dinesh Saklani did not immediately respond.
As the updates continue, the new Class 7 curriculum marks another significant step in India’s efforts to integrate its cultural roots more deeply into the education system.