The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has come under fire for an alleged historical inaccuracy in its Class 8 Social Science textbook, following a complaint from a member of Jaisalmer’s erstwhile royal family. The controversy centers around a map on page 71 of Unit 3, which reportedly shows Jaisalmer as part of the historical Maratha Empire.
On Monday evening, Chaitanya Raj Singh, a descendant of Jaisalmer’s royal lineage, took to the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to strongly object to the depiction, calling it “factless, historically misleading, and seriously objectionable.” He emphasized that such misrepresentations in educational content diminish the credibility of national institutions and dishonour the legacy of the state’s sovereign past.
“The map shown in the NCERT Social Science textbook for Class 8 (Unit 3, page number 71) depicts Jaisalmer as a part of the then Maratha Empire, which is historically misleading, factually baseless, and deeply objectionable,” Singh wrote. He urged that the inclusion of unverified and inaccurate historical claims undermines both public trust and the nation’s educational integrity.
Singh further asserted that the matter is not just about correcting a factual error but is also linked to the “dignity, self-respect, and integrity of the national curriculum.” He has appealed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to take swift and concrete action.
Highlighting the historical significance of Jaisalmer, Singh pointed out that the city was founded in 1178 CE by Rawal Jaisal of the Bhati Rajput clan and remained an independent princely state throughout much of Indian history. He noted that there are no historical records indicating that the Marathas ever controlled, taxed, or invaded Jaisalmer. Even the Mughals were unable to conquer the fortified desert kingdom, which only integrated into the Indian Republic post-Independence.
This incident has reignited the debate over accuracy and accountability in school textbooks, especially those produced by national curriculum bodies like NCERT. Many historians and educators have echoed the call for review mechanisms to ensure that historical content is thoroughly vetted and respects regional legacies.
As the debate unfolds, all eyes are now on NCERT and the Ministry of Education to see whether corrective measures will be implemented to address the concerns raised, for more details CLICK HERE
