From the Inspiration of Swadeshi to a Self-Reliant India, NCERT Launches Special Educational Module for Students

NCERT has published two new educational modules. These modules will teach the journey from history to the modern Make in India and Digital India initiatives.

Recently, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has published two special educational modules that aim to connect the journey of 'Swadeshi' with today's pursuit of a self-reliant India. These modules are titled 'Swadeshi: Vocal for Local' (for middle grades) and 'Swadeshi: For a Self-Reliant India' (for secondary schools).

These modules present the story of India's struggle, from the 1905 Bengal Partition Movement to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a self-reliant India today. The modules trace the culmination of the freedom struggle, where the Swadeshi movement was not only a boycott of foreign goods but also a movement to create Indian alternatives. For example, Bengal's chemical industry and the Tarapur steel plant are highlighted in this context.

The module includes excerpts from Prime Minister Modi's Independence Day speech this year, in which he described self-reliant India as "the cornerstone of a developed India." He also urged teachers to take "homework": working with students to promote indigenous products and the Vocal for Local initiative. History also recalls that Mahatma Gandhi emphasized the importance of swadeshi in education, and Rabindranath Tagore called it the true benchmark of independence.

The new modules also emphasize that swadeshi today is not just a historical perspective, but a strategic approach. India has recently achieved significant success in sectors such as space, defense, and healthcare, which can be considered steps towards self-reliance. These modules link swadeshi to modern initiatives such as Make in India, Startup India, Digital India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Swadeshi means more than just "buying local goods," but also strengthening trust in Indian brands. For example, Amul (dairy), ISRO (space), and Ayurveda (health) are cited as brands whose trust is growing both domestically and internationally.

Swadeshi Digitalized

Swadeshi has also been digitalized in the modern era. The modules introduce the concept of "Swadeshi AI," which advocates for developing our own AI capabilities by reducing our dependence on foreign technologies like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. This way, India can maintain its data sovereignty and provide solutions tailored to local needs—language, agriculture, and governance.

What is the objective?

This initiative makes it clear that NCERT's objective is not just to teach history but to instill in students an understanding of self-reliance in today's times. This is an educational experiment that connects India's past with its present and future. Thus, in this new direction of education, "Swadeshi" has become not just an idea but a strategy to prepare students for the challenges ahead.