Mughals out, Magadha empire makes pages of new NCERT Class 7 textbook ‘rooted in Indian ethos'

The Print

27-04-2025

The new textbook also includes a reference to the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela organised in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Further, it weaves in several Sanskrit terms throughout the different chapters, such as janapada (meaning 'where the people have settled'), samrāj ('supreme ruler'), adhirāja ('overlord'), and rājādhirāja ('king of kings').
New Delhi: Until last year, Class 7 students studied the Mughals and Delhi Sultanate as a part of their social science curriculum. But not anymore. The new NCERT textbook, revamped under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), does not have the two chapters. In their place, it introduces new chapters on ancient Indian dynasties like the Magadha, Mauryas, Shungas, and Sātavāhanas with a focus on 'Indian ethos'.
The new Class 7 textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Part-1, is the latest in NCERT's revamped series under the National Education Policy (2020) and the new NCF, which stresses content 'rooted in the Indian and local context and ethos'.
After introducing new books for Classes 3 and 6 last year, NCERT has now rolled out updated versions for Classes 4 and 7.
A senior NCERT official told ThePrint that Part-2 of the book is also scheduled for release in the coming months. 'Part-1 contains 12 chapters, which will be taught during the first six months of the academic session. Part-2 is expected to include several additional topics, so we request everyone to wait for its release,' said the official on condition of anonymity.
While NCERT had previously trimmed sections on the Mughals and Delhi Sultanate—including a two-page table on Mughal emperors' achievements and detailed accounts of dynasties like the Mamluks, Tughlaqs, Khaljis, and Lodis as part of its syllabus rationalisation during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022–23, the new textbook has now removed all references to them. The book now has all new chapters with no mention of Mughals and Delhi Sultanate throughout.
In the foreword of the textbook, NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani writes: 'The text integrates the values we desire our students to develop, is rooted in the Indian cultural context and introduces global perspectives in an age-appropriate manner.'
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Focus on Magadha, Greeks, & Mauryas
Chapter Five of the NCERT textbook, titled The Rise of Empires, focuses on the emergence of the Magadha dynasty—a powerful ancient kingdom located in what is now southern Bihar and surroundings.
'The period between the 6th and the 4th century BCE was one of profound change in north India…One of them, Magadha (modern-day south Bihar and some adjoining areas), rose in importance and set the stage for the fusion of many kingdoms into India's first empire. Powerful early kings, such as Ajātaśhatru, played a crucial role in establishing Magadha as a dominant centre of power,' a chapter in the book reads.
The book further mentions that while Magadha was growing in the east, the northwest had smaller kingdoms along old trade routes to the Mediterranean. One of these was the Paurava kingdom, ruled by King Porus, mentioned in Greek records.
It also mentioned how Alexander, the Greek king of Macedonia, defeated the Persian Empire to avenge past invasions, with some Indian soldiers fighting on the Persian side. His conquest spread Greek culture and created one of the largest empires in history.
The chapter then focuses on the Maurya dynasty, highlighting the rise of Chandragupta Maurya, briefly touching on the story of Kauṭilya, and discussing Ashoka. It also details the significant contributions of the Mauryas to society and their achievements.
Ancient Indian dynasties with focus on South
The chapter sixth of the book titled The Age of Reorganisation, begins with Puṣhyamitra Śhunga establishing the Śhunga dynasty, which ruled over parts of north and central India.
'The period witnessed the revival of Vedic rituals and practices, but other schools of thought nevertheless continued to flourish..Sanskrit emerged as one of the preferred languages for philosophical and literary works,' the book states.
It further touches upon the aśhvamedha yajña, a Vedic ritual conducted by many rulers to declare their position as the king.
The chapter also covers the Sātavāhana dynasty, also known as the Andhra dynasty, which ruled the Deccan region and oversaw a period of flourishing agriculture and trade.
A section titled Kingdoms and Life in the South highlights southern dynasties such as the Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras, among others.
Pilgrimage and the Sacred Land
The Chapter 8, How the Land Becomes Sacred, begins with a verse from the Bhagavata Purana and explores how various places across India have become sacred through centuries of pilgrimage and belief. It emphasizes the deep spiritual connection people have with the land.
The chapter includes a quote from Jawaharlal Nehru, who described India as a land of pilgrimages—from the icy peaks of Badrinath and Amarnath to the southern tip at Kanyakumari—united by a shared sense of culture and spirituality.
It also highlights Prayagraj, the site of the Kumbh Mela, held every six years at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Sarasvati. Recognized by UNESCO as an 'intangible heritage of the world,' and how the 2025 Kumbh Mela drew an estimated 660 million pilgrims.
The book also has a chapter on the Constitution of India, which mentions that there was a time when people were not allowed to fly the national flag at their homes. 'This changed in 2004 when a citizen felt it was his right to express pride in his country and challenged the rule in court. The Supreme Court agreed, saying that flying the flag is part of the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Expression. We can now fly the tricolour with pride, keeping in mind that it should never be dishonoured.'
The book states that the government also creates opportunities for people to provide feedback on proposed laws or changes in rules. It mentioned how feedback was sought for draft amendments in aadhaar authentication for good governance rules in 2020.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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