The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced it will use "Bharat" and "India" interchangeably in school textbooks, reflecting the terminology used in the Indian Constitution.
NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani confirmed the decision, stating that both terms are acceptable and will be used as needed in educational materials.
This decision follows a recommendation from a high-level committee chaired by CI Isaac, tasked with revising the social science curriculum. The committee suggested replacing "India" with "Bharat," renaming "ancient history" to "classical history," and incorporating the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into the syllabus. Isaac noted that "Bharat" is an ancient name referenced in texts such as the Vishnu Purana, which dates back 7,000 years.
In a recent discussion with PTI editors, Saklani emphasized that the council's stance aligns with the Constitution and dismissed the debate over the terms as unnecessary. He further clarified that this practice is already reflected in current textbooks and will continue in future editions, as mentioned in a report by NDTV.
Despite the committee's unanimous recommendation, NCERT has not decided on the proposal. The use of "Bharat" gained significant attention last year when the government issued G20 invitations under the name "President of Bharat" instead of "President of India." Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nameplate at the G20 summit also read "Bharat."
In another development, NCERT's revised Class 12 political science textbook has sparked controversy for omitting the mention of the Babri Masjid, referring to it only as a "three-domed structure." This revision has added to the ongoing debates surrounding NCERT's recent decisions and their implications for educational content in India.