India, June 26 -- The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a section on the 1975-77 Emergency in its new Class 9 Social Science textbook, while references to the Preamble, secularism and certain other themes from previous editions have been omitted, triggering a fresh political debate.

The revised textbook, titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond, describes the Emergency imposed by the then Indira Gandhi-led Congress government as a "major challenge" to Indian democracy. The chapter discusses the suspension of Fundamental Rights, arrests of opposition leaders and restrictions on the press during the 21-month period. It also highlights the role played by Jayaprakash Narayan and the oppositio...