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Polity & Governance June 27, 2026 5 min read Daily brief · #6 of 13

Amid opposition's protest, NCERT denies dropping Preamble from Class 9 textbook

Reports circulated that the Preamble to the Constitution and the words "Secular" and "Socialist" had been dropped from the newly revised NCERT Class 9 Social...

GS Paper 2 (Governance Constitution) GS Paper 1 (Modern Indian History)

What Happened

  • Reports circulated that the Preamble to the Constitution and the words "Secular" and "Socialist" had been dropped from the newly revised NCERT Class 9 Social Science textbook; NCERT has clarified that these reports are "misleading."
  • The Preamble continues to appear in the opening pages of all NCERT Social Science textbooks; NCERT states the Preamble is also specifically covered in the Grade 10 syllabus.
  • The curriculum redesign under the National Curriculum Framework 2023 (NCF 2023) has redistributed content across grades — constitutional values including secularism, liberty, and justice are introduced in Grade 7 and elaborated in Grade 10, rather than being concentrated in Grade 9.
  • In a significant first, the revised Class 9 Social Science textbook includes a dedicated chapter on the Emergency imposed in India (1975–77), describing it as "a major challenge to Indian democracy," within a chapter titled 'Democracy' under 'Challenges to democratic practices in India.'
  • Opposition parties have demanded that the original Grade 9 coverage of constitutional values be restored, arguing that redistributing content across grades effectively dilutes its prominence for most students.

Static Topic Bridges

The Preamble to the Constitution of India

The Preamble is the introductory statement of the Constitution, declaring the source of the Constitution's authority (the people of India), its objectives, and the nature of the Indian state. While the Preamble is not enforceable in court, the Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) held that it is part of the Constitution and can illuminate its interpretation.

  • The original Preamble (1950) described India as a "Sovereign Democratic Republic" committed to Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
  • The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976), passed during the Emergency, inserted three words: "Socialist," "Secular," and changed "unity of the nation" to "unity and integrity of the nation."
  • The Supreme Court (SR Bommai v. Union of India, 1994) confirmed that secularism is a basic feature of the Constitution and cannot be abrogated.

Connection to this news: The controversy arose because "Secular" and "Socialist" — words added by the 42nd Amendment — were perceived as absent or de-emphasised in the new textbook. NCERT clarified they remain in the Preamble, which is reproduced in all textbooks.

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976

The 42nd Amendment is the most extensive amendment to the Indian Constitution and was passed during the Internal Emergency (1975–77). Often called the "Mini-Constitution," it amended 40 Articles, the Seventh Schedule, and added 14 new Articles in a single sweep.

  • Passed in November 1976 under Article 368; it required only a simple majority in Parliament (not a special majority for some provisions) because the Emergency had concentrated legislative power.
  • Besides the Preamble changes, it curtailed judicial review, gave Parliament supremacy over the Constitution in certain matters, and expanded the scope of Directive Principles over Fundamental Rights — most of these changes were partially reversed by the 44th Amendment (1978).
  • The additions of "Socialist" and "Secular" to the Preamble remain in force; a challenge to these insertions was dismissed by the Supreme Court (Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India, 1996).

Connection to this news: The Emergency-era origins of these words are directly relevant to understanding why the new NCERT chapter on the 1975–77 Emergency has attracted political attention alongside the Preamble controversy.

The 1975–77 Emergency and Article 352

A National Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution can be proclaimed by the President on the advice of the Cabinet if the security of India or any part of it is threatened by war, external aggression, or "armed rebellion" (changed from "internal disturbance" by the 44th Amendment, 1978). The Emergency of June 1975 to March 1977 — the only domestic Emergency in post-independence India — was invoked on grounds of "internal disturbance."

  • Article 352: National Emergency — suspends federal features; Fundamental Rights under Article 19 stand suspended; Parliament assumes power to legislate on State List subjects.
  • Article 356: President's Rule in a state (State Emergency).
  • Article 360: Financial Emergency (never invoked).
  • The 44th Amendment (1978) tightened Emergency provisions: requires Cabinet's written recommendation, Lok Sabha ratification within one month, and periodic renewal every six months.

Connection to this news: The inclusion of the 1975–77 Emergency as a chapter in the Class 9 textbook is pedagogically significant — it is the first time NCERT has formally placed this episode in the school curriculum, raising both its historical and civics examination relevance.

National Curriculum Framework 2023 (NCF 2023)

The National Curriculum Framework 2023 is the fourth NCF prepared by NCERT under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It provides the guiding framework for school education from Grades 1–12 and replaces the NCF 2005.

  • NCF 2023 emphasises a competency-based, interdisciplinary approach with reduced content load ("reducing the burden of curriculum").
  • It restructures schooling into stages: Foundational (Grades 1–2), Preparatory (Grades 3–5), Middle (Grades 6–8), and Secondary (Grades 9–12).
  • Textbooks are being progressively revised grade by grade; revised Social Science textbooks for Grades 6–8 preceded the current Grade 9 revision.

Connection to this news: The redistribution of the Preamble and constitutional values across grades (from sole coverage in Grade 9 to spread across Grades 7–10) is a direct result of the NCF 2023 restructuring logic, not an editorial omission as alleged.

Key Facts & Data

  • 42nd Amendment year: 1976 (during Emergency, 1975–77)
  • Words added to Preamble: "Socialist," "Secular," "Integrity" (changed "unity" to "unity and integrity")
  • 44th Amendment year: 1978 (reversed several 42nd Amendment changes)
  • Emergency proclaimed: June 25–26, 1975; revoked: March 1977 (21 months total)
  • Article 352: National Emergency; Article 356: State Emergency; Article 360: Financial Emergency
  • NCF 2023: fourth National Curriculum Framework (preceded by NCFs of 1975, 1988, 2000, 2005)
  • Kesavananda Bharati judgment (1973): Preamble is part of the Constitution; Basic Structure doctrine established
  • SR Bommai judgment (1994): Secularism is a basic feature of the Constitution
On this page
  1. What Happened
  2. Static Topic Bridges
  3. The Preamble to the Constitution of India
  4. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976
  5. The 1975–77 Emergency and Article 352
  6. National Curriculum Framework 2023 (NCF 2023)
  7. Key Facts & Data
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