Lok Sabha Question No. 275 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Inclusion of Bharat in NCERT Textbook
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Aparupa  Poddar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 275 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## Inclusion of Bharat in NCERT Textbooks

## 275.  SHRIMATI APARUPA PODDAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  proposing  to  replace  'India'  with  'Bharat'  in  the  NCERT textbooks;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) the names of the members of Social Science Committee constituted in 2022 and 2023;

(d) the reasons for not uploading the data on UDISE+ data sharing portal by the Government for 2022 and 2023;

(e) whether the student has to give test on Diksha platform after completion of course; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ( SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI )

(a) & (b)  Article 1 of the Constitution of India states that 'India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union  of  States."  India's  Constitution  recognizes  both  'India'  and  'Bharat'  as  the  official names of the country which can be used interchangeably. The NCERT duly acknowledges this spirit as enshrined in our Constitution and does not differentiate between the two.

As we collectively move away from the colonial mindset and encourage the usage of the words in Bhartiya Bhasha (Indian languages), NCERT, an autonomous body under the aegis of Ministry of Education involved in preparation of school curriculum and textbooks, will also do its best in furthering the same.

(c)      A  Revised  Notification  issued  vide  F.No.  17-04/2023-24/DCS&D  Dated  10.11.2023 regarding  Constitution  of  Curricular  Area  Group  :  Social  Science  (  including  History, Geography, Political Science, Sociology and Psychology) including names of the members is attached as Annexure 'A' .  Constitution of Curricular Area Group : Economics (including Commerce,  Accounting,  Finance,  Entrepreneurship  notification  dated  08.11.2023  issued vide File No. 17-04/2023-24/DCS&D/ is attached  as Annexure 'B' .   In the year 2022, no committee for Social Science had been constituted.

(d)        The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education has developed the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) system to  record  data  on  indicators  of  school  education  provided  by  all  the  States  and  Union Territories.  Data  in  UDISE  Plus  is  filled  directly  by  the  schools  in  the  online  portal  viz., http://udiseplus.gov.in/#. UDISE Plus data are validated and verified at Block, District and State level for ensuring its authenticity. The UDISE+ report upto 2021-22 has been released and data can be accessed at http://dashboard.udiseplus.gov.in. Data for the year 2022-23 is at the advance stage of completion.

(e) & (f)    DIKSHA, One Nation, One Digital Platform under PMeVIDYA is a repository of digital  content  such  as  explanation  videos,  audios,  lesson  plans,  etc, that  are  freely accessible. There are courses for students on DIKSHA offered by some States/UTs and the student may have to give a test if assessment is part of the course structure. In addition to this,  quizzes  are  also  conducted  on  the  DIKSHA  platform  from  time  to  time.  Further, courses for students for classes 11-12 are offered by NCERT through SWAYAM platform.

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Annexure 'B'

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