Delhi schools are set to introduce a new course titled Rashtraneeti (Statecraft), which aims to provide students with practical knowledge of governance, democracy, and the policymaking process. This initiative was highlighted in the Delhi government’s budget announcement, marking a significant addition to the educational curriculum.
The term ‘Rashtraneeti’ gained prominence when it was used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in February 2024. At the time, Modi contrasted ‘Rashtraneeti’ (statecraft) with ‘Rajneeti’ (politics), emphasizing that his government had chosen the former over the latter when it refrained from releasing a white paper on the economy in 2014. According to the Prime Minister, such a move was intended to prevent undermining the country’s confidence in its economic stability, a criticism he directed at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
While the Delhi government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), appears to have taken inspiration from Modi’s remarks on ‘Rashtraneeti,’ this is not the first time changes have been introduced in India’s education system under the current administration. The country has witnessed various modifications in the National Education Policy, commonly referred to as ‘Shikshaneeti,’ under the BJP’s governance.
In 2014, shortly after Modi assumed office as Prime Minister, BJP-led states such as Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh made a significant decision to include Modi’s life story as part of their school curricula. In recent years, school textbooks have undergone further revisions, with some historical events being altered or omitted. Notably, references to incidents such as the Gujarat riots of 2002 and the Babri Masjid demolition were either modified or removed from educational materials.
The changes in school curricula sparked discussions and debates, with some arguing that they were politically motivated. In June 2024, the director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Dinesh Prasad Saklani, defended the revisions, asserting that their purpose was to refine educational content in a way that would be beneficial for students. According to Saklani, excessive focus on events such as communal riots could potentially create a sense of negativity and distress among young learners. Speaking to The Hindu, he maintained that these modifications were part of a routine annual revision process and should not be overly sensationalized.
As the new Rashtraneeti course is set to be implemented in Delhi schools, it is expected to provide students with insights into the workings of governance and democratic institutions. While some may view this initiative as an extension of the government’s broader approach to education reform, others may perceive it as a step toward shaping young minds with an emphasis on nationalistic ideals. The impact of this curriculum change will likely be observed in the coming years as students engage with the newly introduced subject matter.
