NCERT alters grade 12 History Book; modifies Indigenous Origins and Aryan Migration Clarity

The history chapter for Class 12 students on the beginnings and demise of the Indus Valley Civilization has undergone substantial revisions by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT). These modifications are a part of the history textbook updates and revisions for the 2024–2025 school year, which were just shared with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

The chapter "Bricks, Beads, and Bones – The Harappan Civilization" in the history textbook "Themes in India History Part-I" for class twelve has undergone the most significant modifications. The changes in the chapters have been justified on the basis of “recent evidence from archaeological sites.”

According to the sources, the additions primarily emphasize the ‘unbroken continuity for 5000 years’ of the Harappan civilization, reference recent archaeogenetic research at the Rakhigarhi site to rule out Aryan immigration, and suggest that the Harappans practiced some form of democratic system.

Apart from these, three new paragraphs on the recent DNA study on Rakhigarhi which rejects Aryan immigration and emphasizes that “Harappans are the indigenous people of this region” have been added. It not only states that 
It also states that the genetic roots of the Harappans and their DNA continued until today, with a majority of the South Asian population being their descendants.

In addition to this, another sentence has been added calling for more researched connection with Harappans and the Vedic people. However, some scholars are still arguing on the same.