NCERT revamps Class 11-12 political science textbook panel

The NCERT has reconstituted the Textbook Development Team for Class 11 and 12 Political Science with a mandate to integrate cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems and inclusion. At least four of the 20 members have direct or indirect links with the RSS, as reported by the Assam Tribune and National Herald. The Indian Express reported the formation without mentioning the RSS links.

The team is led by academic Sandeep Shastri. Among the members with RSS links are Yadunath Deshpande, a senior consultant with the Education Ministry who has held ABVP posts and describes himself as a BJP political consultant, Prashant Divekar, associated with RSS-affiliated Jnana Prabodhini, Vandana Mishra, a former ABVP national secretary, and Ravi Rameshchandra Shukla, an associate professor who has served on the editorial board of an RSS-affiliate publication. The team will develop the Class 11 textbook by November and the Class 12 book by July next year.

NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani said the team will integrate cross-cutting themes such as cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems and inclusion. The Assam Tribune and National Herald led their reports with the RSS links, while the Indian Express did not mention them.