Kolhapur: Opposition politicians in Maharashtra have sharply criticised the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for allegedly dropping the ‘Maratha Empire’ map from the Std VIII social science textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond — Part I, scheduled for use in the 2026-27 academic year.NCERT develops, publishes and revises textbooks for Stds I-XII, which form the core curriculum for CBSE-affiliated schools across India. The opposition members said the map — Figure 3.11 on page 71 — previously appeared in the Hindi, Urdu and English editions of the textbook.“Historians have shown that the Maratha Empire stretched from Attock to Cuttack. The sudden removal of the map and the Maratha Empire from the curriculum is condemnable. This is an attempt to erase the Marathas’ glorious history,” read a post by Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, the former Rajya Sabha member and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj‘s descendant, on his official X handle.It was last Aug that Rajasthan BJP politicians and representatives of erstwhile royal families petitioned the Union education ministry, arguing that the map on page 71 of the Std VIII NCERT social science textbook showed Rajput states like Jaisalmer, Mewar, and Bundi as part of the Maratha Empire. They claimed this was historically inaccurate. Subsequently, NCERT removed the map from the Hindi and Urdu textbooks, though it remained in the English version available online. A footnote in the Hindi and Urdu editions stated: “A new version of Figure 3.11 will be provided in the next edition of this textbook.” The books are yet to be circulated.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Omprakash Rajenimbalkar also took to social media condemning the move. “We suspect the move was made under pressure from Rajasthan’s royal families and BJP govt there. Historical records such as the 1752 Ahmednagar treaty, British Gazetteer and Rajputana Gazetteer clearly show Maratha influence in Rajasthan. NCERT’s failure to provide satisfactory responses to our Right to Information (RTI) queries is a blatant violation of transparency,” he posted on X.NCP (SP) MP Amol Kolhe also expressed anger against the omission. “The decision must be reviewed based on objective historical evidence. Records clearly show that Marathas exercised influence over major princely states like Jaipur and Jodhpur, and collected chauth (tax) from these regions. The map should be reinstated so that future generations receive accurate historical knowledge,” he stated in a social media post.Raje Mudhoji Bhonsle, the descendant of Shrimant Raje Raghuji Bhonsle and head of the Bhonsle family in Nagpur, also posted on his social media handle, saying, “We will not step back from the fight we have initiated against NCERT. I will soon meet the concerned authorities to ensure the map is reinstated in the textbook.”TOI reached out to NCERT through it’s official email seeking response over the claims made by Maharashtra politicians over the dropping of the map from the textbook. A message was also sent to NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Sakhlani on the issue. But response to the email and the text message was awaited till going to the press.
