NCERT Revises Class 8 History Textbook, Says 'Congress Widely Opposed Partition'

Last Updated:July 12, 2026, 16:15 IST

The new edition removes a sentence from the earlier version which stated that "the Congress leaders were helpless" as communal violence spread across subcontinent during Partition

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has revised the History chapter in the Class 8 Social Science textbook, introducing significant changes to its account of India’s Partition.

The revised chapter, titled “India’s Long Road to Independence" in Exploring Society: India and Beyond – Part 2, replaces an earlier version that was withdrawn following observations by the Supreme Court.

The updated text states that the British had “for decades encouraged Hindu-Muslim differences to grow" and says the Partition resulted from disagreements “between the two communities or rather small sections." It further notes that the Partition plan “was widely opposed even by the Indian National Congress."

The chapter also adds that whether the Congress leadership’s decision to accept Partition was “the only way forward" remains a matter of debate, presenting the issue as one that continues to invite differing historical interpretations.

Among the notable revisions, the new edition removes a sentence from the earlier version which stated that “the Congress leaders were helpless" as communal violence spread across the subcontinent during Partition. While the revised text retains Mahatma Gandhi’s remarks expressing anguish over the violence, it omits the reference to the Congress leadership’s helplessness.

The revised textbook is expected to draw fresh attention as debates continue over the presentation of historical events in school curricula.

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Simran BabbarSenior Correspondent

Simran Babbar is a Senior Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering key developments in emerging sectors related to education and investigations. Through her reports, she brings significant updates from t...Read More

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