India’s national school curriculum has again come under controversy, this time over a map in an 8th grade social science textbook that depicted the state of Jaisalmer as part of the Maratha Empire. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the country’s apex curriculum body, has now removed the controversial map from the revised digital edition of the 2025-26 academic session.The move followed sustained objections from historians, Rajput organizations and former royal families of Rajasthan, who alleged that the image distorts historical facts. While the NCERT decision has temporarily quelled the immediate uproar, the incident has reignited a deeper and more enduring debate: how India’s school textbooks interpret history, and how sensitive that interpretation can be.
Jaisalmer Map Controversy: How the Controversy Unfolded?
At the center of the array was Map 3.11 in the Class 8 Social Science textbook, showing Jaisalmer under the Maratha Empire. Critics argue that such portrayals lack credible historical support and risk misinforming millions of students.According to a TNN report, among the most vocal critics was Maharawal Chaitanyaraj Singh, a member of the former royal family of Jaisalmer. He urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to intervene and correct what he called a grave educational blunder, publicly condemning the “historically misleading and factually incorrect” map.The protests soon spread beyond Jaisalmer. Former royal families of Mewar and Bundi also challenged the portrayal of their territories coming under Maratha control. Prominent figures including Vishwaraj Singh Mewar, Rajsamand MLA Mahima Kumari, and former Bondi royal Bhupesh Singh Hada made formal representations to the central government.His argument was simple enough: historical records, archives, and contemporary accounts show no evidence of Maratha administrative presence, taxation, and military intervention in Jaisalmer. In fact, historians of the region say that the Marathas never established a political presence in Jaisalmer. Facing mounting criticism, NCERT decided to withdraw the map from the online edition of the textbook.
A corrective step, but not without demands.
Although the removal of the map has been welcomed locally, the controversy is not entirely over. Devendra Pratap Singh, director of the Jaisalmer Fort Palace Museum, termed NCERT’s move as a necessary reform but argued that the institution should also formally apologize for the mistake. According to local historians and residents, earlier depictions had offended sentiments for diminishing the region’s historical legacy.For many in Rajasthan, the debate goes beyond a single map. They point to episodes like the historic “Dhai Saka”, a moment of sacrifice and resistance in Jaisalmer’s past, as evidence of the region’s distinct political history.The argument, he says, is not just about pride but about historical accuracy in schooling.
NCERT is not the first controversy.
The Jaisalmer map incident comes barely weeks after another major controversy over NCERT textbooks. Earlier this year, the council was forced to withdraw an entire Class 8 social science textbook titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Grade 8 (Part II), following criticism over a chapter discussing corruption in the judiciary.Bob, Role of judiciary in our societyjudicial scrutiny to emphasize case backlogs and alleged misconduct by judges. A court took suo motu notice of the matter and ordered the seizure of all physical copies and removal of the digital version.NCERT issued an “unconditional and unqualified apology”, confirming that the book has been withdrawn across the country. Only 32 copies were reportedly sold before distribution was halted.The court argued that criticism of institutions is permissible, but there is a danger of presenting a one-sided narrative in the textbook, which may harm the authority and prestige of the judiciary.
A sample of textbook battles
In both these episodes, we can see a common problem faced by curriculum developers in India, that of balancing the need for academic freedom with the need for political sensitivity and public perception. Textbooks used in Indian schools are of great importance. NCERT books are not only used in central government schools but are also used as guides for various state boards and competitive exams. So any kind of distortion, be it historical or institutional, can lead to a national debate. Over the past few years, there have been several cases of controversies over the content of textbooks used in Indian schools. Most of these controversies are related to the way history, politics and institutions are portrayed in these books.
The big question: Who owns it? History in School Education ?
The Jaisalmer dispute is only one reflection of a larger problem: history is not always clear. There is always room for interpretation as new discoveries are made.The problem is compounded when such histories find their way into school textbooks. Millions of students depend on textbooks as sources of knowledge.Why are historians saying that textbooks need to be subjected to a rigorous peer review process?
A lesson beyond the classroom
Removing the Jaisalmer map may resolve the immediate controversy, but is unlikely to end the wider debate. In a country where history intersects with identity, politics and regional pride, textbooks are more than educational tools, they are tools that shape collective memory.As India continues to revise and modernize its curriculum, the challenge will become clear: to ensure that textbooks remain academically rigorous while also reflecting the country’s diverse historical realities.Recent controversies serve as a reminder that accuracy when history is taught in classrooms is not just an academic requirement, it is a public responsibility.(with input from TNN)
