Quick Facts
- NCERT recast the 20-member Political Science textbook team for Classes 11 and 12 on August 14.
- At least four members have documented RSS, ABVP, or BJP links, up from the earlier 2025 panel.
- Class 11 book is due by November 30, 2026, and the Class 12 book by July 30, 2027.
In This Article
The NCERT Political Science Panel was recast on August 14, 2026, giving a fresh 20-member team the job of writing new Class 11 and 12 textbooks, with at least four members holding RSS links.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) issued the order through Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani. It replaces an earlier team notified on June 5, 2025. The new books must follow the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, per the NCERT official notification.
Key Takeaways
- The recast panel signals a fresh push to align senior secondary political science books with NEP 2020 goals.
- Four members with RSS or ABVP roots have raised fresh questions from critics about possible ideological influence.
- Panel head Sandeep Shastri says his focus is factual, unbiased content that lets students debate and decide.
CampusFeed Take
The recast matters less for its politics and more for its clock. NCERT has set a tight November 30 window for the Class 11 book, which leaves under four months to finalise a subject as sensitive as political science. Parents and teachers of the 2027-28 senior secondary batch should watch closest, since these are the books their children will actually study. Expect draft syllabi and review notes to surface on the NCERT site before the deadline, and expect scrutiny of every chapter on secularism, federalism, and post-Independence history. CampusFeed will track each draft as it is published. By Harshvardhan Kothari.
What the NCERT Political Science Panel Recast Changes
The recast replaces the June 2025 Textbook Development Team (TDT) with a new 20-member group for Classes 11 and 12. Professor Sandeep Shastri, Vice President of Karnataka-based Nitte (Deemed to be University), leads the team. Dr Vanthangpui Khobung and Dr Subhash Singh serve as member-coordinators, handling official communication.
NCERT said the team was reformed to better organise textbook development under NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023. The books will weave in cross-cutting themes: cultural rootedness, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), inclusion, educational technology, and assessment, the notification said.
Who Does the New Panel Mandate Apply To?
The new mandate applies to students of Classes 11 and 12 who will study revised political science books from the 2027-28 academic session. Existing textbooks stay in use during 2026-27. The panel debate centres on four members with documented ties to the RSS, its student wing ABVP, or the BJP.
“My job is to ensure that there are no factual errors, there might be varying perspectives and we welcome debate on issues. But my endeavour will be to see there are accuracies, and then let the children decide,” Sandeep Shastri, panel head, told Deccan Herald.
Members with reported RSS or ABVP links include Vandana Mishra, a JNU professor and former ABVP national secretary, and Yadunath Deshpande, a Ministry of Education consultant with a long ABVP background, according to reporting by PTI and Deccan Herald.
What Are the Key Dates and Panel Details?
The NCERT notification fixed firm deadlines and a clear team structure for the political science books.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Notification date | August 14, 2026 |
| Panel size | 20 members |
| Team leader | Prof Sandeep Shastri, VP, Nitte University |
| Class 11 book deadline | November 30, 2026 |
| Class 12 book deadline | July 30, 2027 |
| Replaces | June 5, 2025 team notification |
The tightest number here is the Class 11 deadline. It gives the team barely three and a half months from notification to finish a full political science textbook.
About NCERT
NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) is the apex body that designs school curriculum and textbooks in India. Set up in 1961 and governed by the Ministry of Education, it develops books used by CBSE and many state boards across thousands of schools. Its books shape what millions of students learn each year, per the NCERT official website.
What This Means For You
If you are a student
If you are in Class 10 or 11 now, your senior secondary political science book may change from the 2027-28 session. You will study the current NCERT book during 2026-27, so your syllabus stays the same for now. Watch the NCERT site for draft chapters so you know what is coming.
Turn Your Achievements Into Stories That Students Actually Read
Feature admissions, placements, rankings, events, research initiatives, achievements, and institutional milestones before a highly engaged education-focused audience.
If you are a parent
If your child enters Class 11 in 2027, the new NCERT Political Science Panel book will likely be theirs. Read the draft when NCERT publishes it and raise any concern through your school. You have a real say during the public feedback stage.
If you are a school principal or teacher
If you teach political science, prepare for a content refresh built around NEP 2020 and IKS themes. Track the draft syllabus early so you can plan lessons and training. The November 30 draft deadline is your first signal of the direction.
What Is Next
NCERT now moves into drafting and internal review. Key dates ahead:
- November 30, 2026: Class 11 political science textbook to be finalised.
- July 30, 2027: Class 12 political science textbook to be finalised.
- 2027-28 session: revised books expected in classrooms.
Will the new team keep its promise of factual, debate-friendly books that students can question freely?
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: August 20, 2026 at 14:30 IST
Last verified: August 20, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information at the time of publishing. Exam dates, cutoffs, fees, deadlines, eligibility criteria, and scholarship details can change without notice. Always verify the latest information from the official portal of NCERT before taking any action. CampusFeed and its authors are not responsible for decisions made based on this article. This is not legal, financial, or career advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual guidance.
Written by Harshvardhan Kothari. Published: August 20, 2026. Updated: August 20, 2026. Have a tip or correction? Write to us at editorial@campusfeed.in.
