India, June 25 -- A new National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Class 9 social science textbook features the state of Emergency (1975-1977) imposed during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's rule under a section titled "challenges to democratic practices in India", triggering a war of words between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress. The Emergency first featured in the Class 12 political science textbook in 2007, which is still in use.

In July 2024, the government announced that June 25 will annually be observed as "Samvidhan Hatya Divas (Constitution Murder Day)" in remembrance of the Emergency.

Released on Thursday, the section in the new Class 9 textbook notes that democratic institut...