NCERT Adds 1975 Emergency to Class 9 Social Science Book, Calls It a Major Challenge to Democracy

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a section on the 1975–1977 National Emergency in its Class 9 syllabus for the first time. An NCERT official confirmed that the addition features in the newly developed Social Science textbook, titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond, categorizing the period as one of the major challenges faced by Indian democracy. The inclusion comes exactly 51 years after the declaration of the Emergency on June 25, 1975.

Focus on Democratic Challenges

The newly added curriculum places the Emergency within Chapter 6, which analyzes the structural strengths and systemic challenges of the Indian democratic framework. According to the textbook passages, the early 1970s saw rising public dissatisfaction with the government led by Indira Gandhi. The text attributes this unrest to socio-economic factors, including rising unemployment, inflation, and growing allegations of misgovernance, which culminated in widespread citizen protests. NCERT Introduces Section on Emergency in Class IX Textbook for First Time, Flags It as 'Challenge to Democracy'.

The textbook outlines the mechanics of the 21-month period, noting that a National Emergency was declared in June 1975 on the grounds of "internal disturbance." The text explicitly details the civil consequences of the declaration, explaining that a majority of fundamental rights were suspended, strict press censorship was enacted, and numerous political leaders and activists were jailed. It concludes that democratic institutions came under severe strain while citizens' regular freedoms were heavily restricted.

A specific portion of the section highlights the role of socialist thinker and political leader Jayaprakash Narayan, widely known as "Lok Nayak." The textbook details how mass movements led by Narayan mobilized students and citizens across the country, particularly in Bihar and Gujarat. It further states that when the Emergency was lifted in 1977, the subsequent defeat of the ruling government in general elections demonstrated the foundational strength and resilience of the Indian democratic process.

The inclusion of the Emergency forms part of a wider modernization of school materials under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Alongside historical challenges, the revised Class 9 textbook introduces discussions on contemporary civic issues, including fake news, misinformation, regionalism, and gender inequality. Additionally, the chapter features a new practical segment titled "Democracy and You," designed to connect classroom learning with active citizenship, alongside modules detailing the scale of Indian voter participation and grassroots governance models.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2026 09:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).