NCERT’s New Class 6 Textbook: ‘Madhya Rekha’ and ‘Sindhu-Sarasvati’ Focus

In the 2024–25 academic year, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) introduced significant revisions to its Class 6 Social Science curriculum. The new textbook, titled Exploring Society — India and Beyond, amalgamates History, Geography, and Civics into a single volume, replacing the earlier three separate books. This change aligns with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 and aims to streamline content by focusing on "big ideas" across disciplines

The revised Class 6 textbook has sparked discussions due to its content modifications. Notably, it introduces the concept of 'Madhya Rekha'—India's ancient prime meridian passing through Ujjain—and refers to the Harappan civilization as the 'Sindhu-Sarasvati' civilization, emphasizing the Sarasvati river's significance . Additionally, the textbook includes expanded narratives from the Upanishads and the Mahabharata, while reducing detailed accounts of ancient Indian kingdoms. For instance, King Ashoka receives only a single-word mention, and discussions on the Maurya and Gupta empires have been significantly condensed.

While NCERT maintains that these revisions aim to reduce content load and emphasize core concepts, the broader implications on historical representation and inclusivity in education continue to be a subject of national discourse.

For more information check out the official website: https://ncert.nic.in/