New Delhi, October 1 : The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has released the second part of its revised Class 9 Social Science textbook for the 2026-27 academic session, bringing a new approach to the study of medieval Indian history, regional political powers, religious traditions and the evolution of governance.
Titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond – Part 2, the textbook became available through authorised NCERT channels from September 29. The book is part of the ongoing transition towards textbooks developed in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.
The release has attracted attention because of the way the new textbook presents the period between approximately 1000 and 1700 CE. A chapter titled “Resistance and Resilience” examines the political and military challenges faced by several regional powers and describes the ways in which communities and kingdoms responded to invasions and conflicts.
The chapter covers the Rajputs, Ahom kingdom, Vijayanagara Empire, Marathas, Sikhs and Jats, among other regional powers. It also discusses military encounters, political alliances, cultural traditions and the reconstruction of temples.
The treatment of medieval history differs from a purely chronological account of rulers and battles. The book places emphasis on the idea of resilience and the preservation of social and cultural traditions during periods of political conflict. It also includes references to both confrontation and cooperation between different political groups.
Among the details that have drawn public attention are references to traditional accounts involving rulers and divine weapons. The textbook states that worship of goddesses such as Kali, Durga and Bhavani was a longstanding tradition and that rulers invoked different forms of Shakti during periods of conflict.
It also refers to traditional beliefs surrounding rulers including Annamaraja of Bastar, Vijayanagara ruler Kumara Kampana and Chhatrapati Shivaji. The accounts are presented in the context of religious traditions and historical narratives associated with political resistance.
The book’s coverage of the Sikh tradition also forms a significant part of the chapter. It discusses the martyrdom of Sikh Gurus, including Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur, and examines developments under Mughal authority that contributed to the emergence of organised Sikh resistance.
The textbook also refers to Guru Gobind Singh and connects the sacrifices of the Sikh Gurus with the development of a community tradition centred on courage, faith and resistance.
Another section examines the Ahom kingdom’s prolonged resistance to Mughal forces. The Battle of Saraighat and the defence of the Ahom territories are included as examples of regional resistance during the period.
The Vijayanagara, Rajput, Maratha and Jat experiences receive separate attention, allowing students to examine political developments beyond the major imperial centres. The book also discusses the concept of Swarajya associated with the Maratha tradition and the resistance of Maharana Pratap to Mughal expansion.
Temple history is another component of the revised material. The textbook discusses instances of temple destruction and reconstruction and refers to personalities associated with these developments. The account includes references to the Kashi Vishwanath temple as well as figures such as Todar Mal, Man Singh and Ahilyabai Holkar.
The book also incorporates the Bhakti tradition and examines how devotional practices continued in different circumstances. This section connects religious life with broader social and cultural developments during the medieval period.
Alongside history, the revised Class 9 Social Science curriculum seeks to bring together different aspects of society and governance. The book’s broader approach is intended to encourage students to examine historical developments through multiple themes instead of treating individual events in isolation.
NCERT Director Dinesh Saklani has stated in the foreword that Social Science learning at the secondary level is expected to develop analytical and discursive abilities, encourage critical inquiry and promote intercultural understanding. The stated objective is also to help students participate with confidence and responsibility in civic and social life.
The new book is part of a wider revision of Class 9 learning material. NCERT has been introducing revised textbooks for the 2026-27 academic year under the curriculum changes linked to NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023.
The first part of Understanding Society: India and Beyond was released earlier in the year, while the second part brings additional material covering the medieval period and other areas of Social Science. The revised Mathematics textbook for Class 9 has also been introduced as part of the same transition.
The release of the new history material comes as schools across the country continue adapting to the revised curriculum structure. Teachers are expected to familiarise themselves with the new books and integrate the updated content into classroom teaching.
The textbook’s presentation of medieval history is likely to remain an important subject for classroom discussion because it combines political history with accounts of religious traditions, cultural continuity and regional identities.
For students, the revised material represents a change in the way several historical themes are organised. Instead of focusing only on major dynasties, the book gives considerable space to regional kingdoms and their interactions with larger political powers.
The approach also gives greater attention to cultural practices and traditions alongside political developments. This includes the Bhakti movement, temple traditions, Sikh history and the experiences of communities that confronted changing political conditions.
The new textbook therefore forms an important part of NCERT’s latest curriculum rollout for secondary school students. Its contents are expected to shape classroom discussions on medieval India during the current academic session while teachers and students adjust to the revised Social Science framework.