NCERT textbook controversies: Fake Emergency chapter circulates online, Karnataka Class 6 Kannada book sparks row

SEO Title: NCERT textbook controversy: Fake Emergency chapter goes viral, Karnataka Class 6 Kannada book faces criticism

Meta Description: NCERT has warned against fake Class 9 Emergency chapter textbooks circulating online, while Karnataka's new Class 6 Kannada textbook faces criticism over alleged saffronisation.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is facing two separate textbook controversies—one over a fake version of its newly introduced Class 9 Social Science chapter on the 1975–77 Emergency and another over criticism of Karnataka's new Class 6 Kannada textbook.

NCERT warns against fake Class 9 Emergency chapter

NCERT has cautioned students, teachers and parents against relying on pirated or manipulated versions of its newly released Class 9 Social Science textbook, Understanding Society: India and Beyond, after unauthorized copies began circulating on social media and messaging platforms.

According to the council, the fake editions contain altered or incomplete content and do not represent the officially published textbook. NCERT clarified that all textbooks are released only through its authorised channels and urged readers to access them exclusively through official platforms such as the NCERT website, ePathshala and authorised vendors.

The council also warned that distributing or sharing pirated textbooks is a punishable offence under the Copyright Act, 1957, and said legal action would be initiated against those responsible for unauthorised circulation.

Emergency chapter introduced for the first time

The controversy comes shortly after NCERT introduced a dedicated chapter on the 1975–77 Emergency in a Class 9 textbook for the first time.

The chapter describes the Emergency as one of the most significant challenges to Indian democracy, explaining that the proclamation under Article 352 led to the suspension of many Fundamental Rights, press censorship and the arrest of several political leaders and activists.

It also discusses the growing public dissatisfaction during the early 1970s and highlights the role of Jayaprakash Narayan in mobilising nationwide democratic movements. The chapter notes that the lifting of the Emergency in 1977 and the subsequent general election demonstrated the resilience of India's democratic system.

Beyond the Emergency, the textbook addresses issues such as fake news, misinformation, poverty, regionalism, social discrimination, gender inequality and the role of the media as the "fourth pillar of democracy." A new section titled Democracy and You encourages students to connect classroom learning with active citizenship.

Karnataka Class 6 Kannada textbook draws criticism

Meanwhile, a separate controversy has emerged in Karnataka over the new Class 6 Kannada textbook titled Krishna.

The People's Alliance for Fundamental Rights to Education (PAFRE) has alleged that the textbook promotes the "saffronisation" of school education by placing greater emphasis on religious themes while giving comparatively less attention to Karnataka's literary, cultural and social diversity.

PAFRE has argued that the textbook reflects a broader trend of incorporating mythology and religion into school curricula under the framework of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). The organisation has called for a review of the content, claiming it does not adequately represent Karnataka's rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

NCERT reiterates official textbook sources

Amid the controversies, NCERT has reiterated that students should download textbooks only from official platforms and avoid relying on unofficial copies shared online. The council maintains that unauthorised versions may contain inaccurate, incomplete or fabricated material that could mislead learners and educators.