NCERT Textbook Update: Seventh-grade students will now read the complete story of Mahmud of Ghazni's destruction..
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has made significant changes to the Class 7 Social Science textbook. This time, the new syllabus books for 2026-27 include a detailed account of Mahmud Ghaznavi's invasions of India. Previous editions only contained a short paragraph on this topic.
The new book features a chapter titled "The Ghaznavi Invasions," which provides students with a six-page section detailing Ghaznavi's 17 invasions of the Indian subcontinent. It describes the destruction of temples in Mathura and Kannauj, the demolition of the Somnath temple in Gujarat, and the removal of the Shiva Lingam.
The book also explains when and by whom the Somnath temple was rebuilt. It includes questions for students, such as why the entire cost of the temple's reconstruction was borne by public donations.
What will students learn in the new book?
In the new book, students will learn that thousands of ordinary Indians were massacred during Ghaznavi's invasions. They will learn how prisoners were enslaved and how children were sold in slave markets in Central Asia. Citing historical sources such as Al-Utbi and Al-Biruni, Ghaznavi is described as a powerful but cruel and ruthless commander who targeted Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and rival Islamic sects.
Cautionary message in a box
Before the Ghaznavi section, a cautionary message is included in a box. It states that historical accounts often give more prominence to wars and conflicts, while peace and cultural achievements receive less attention.
New content on Ghori and Khilji
Another chapter, "Turning Tides: 11th and 12th Centuries," describes the campaigns of Muhammad Ghori, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, and Bakhtiyar Khilji.
Detailed account of the destruction of Nalanda and Vikramshila
This edition also includes a detailed account of the destruction of the Nalanda and Vikramshila universities. This was absent in the older edition. The book states that monks were massacred on a large scale. Libraries burned for months, and this is considered a major reason for the decline of Buddhism in India. A section on the Arab invasion and Sindh has also been added.
Meanwhile, the chapter covering the 6th to 10th centuries includes new sections on the invasions of the Huns and Arabs. Muhammad bin Qasim's campaign in Sindh is depicted as a religious duty, based on 13th-century Persian sources. The context of historical terms like "Kafir" has been explained.
New Integrated Textbook Model
According to the New Education Policy (NEP 2020) and the National Curriculum Framework 2023, textbooks for classes one to eight are being revised. Class 7 students will now use two integrated Social Science textbooks instead of separate books for History, Civics, and Geography.
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