Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation and Ujjayini Meridian

• 23 Jul 2024

Source: IE

The new NCERT incorporates several changes from the previous textbooks. The textbook aims to align with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 and the National Education Policy 2020, emphasising the integration of traditional Indian knowledge and a thematic approach to social science education.

Changes in NCERT Textbooks:

• The textbook refers to the Harappan civilization as the 'Indus-Sarasvati' or 'Sindhu-Sarasvati' civilisation, highlighting the prominence of the Sarasvati river.
  • It mentions that the Sarasvati River, now known as the Ghaggar-Hakra River, was a major part of the Harappan civilization and that its desiccation contributed to the decline of the civilization.
• Long before the adoption of the Greenwich Meridian, India had its prime meridian, known as the "Madhya rekha" (or "middle line"), which passed through the city of Ujjain.
  • The textbook introduces the concept of the 'Ujjayini meridian', an ancient prime meridian of India, which was used for astronomical calculations.
• Other Changes in Structure and Content:
  • The new textbook is a single volume covering five themes, unlike the previous separate textbooks for History, Political Science, and Geography.
    • It aims to present a more integrated and interdisciplinary approach to social science education.
  • The chapter on diversity has shifted its focus, with less emphasis on caste-based discrimination and inequality compared to the previous textbook.

Read More: National Education Policy 2020, National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023