NCERT Drops Periodic Table Chapter from Class 10

NCERT: The concept of the Periodic Table holds significant importance in the field of chemistry, both in theory and application. Understanding the Periodic Table is crucial for comprehending the composition of the world and how it is constructed from the fundamental elements of chemistry.

Glenn T Seaborg, an American chemist, emphasizes this significance at the beginning of the chapter on ‘Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties’ in NCERT’s Class 11 Chemistry textbook. Surprisingly, this chapter has been omitted from NCERT’s Class 10 Science textbook as part of the council’s effort to streamline the curriculum. However, the Class 11 syllabus continues to include this topic.

Last year, in June, the NCERT made these deletions from the Class 10 textbooks, citing the need to alleviate the content load on students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides the removal of the chapter on the Periodic Table, other sections such as ‘Evolution’ were also eliminated from the Class 10 Science textbook. Nevertheless, ‘Evolution,’ including the Darwinian theory of natural selection, is still covered in the curriculum through a complete chapter in NCERT’s Class 12 Biology textbook. Additional topics that have been removed from the Science textbooks include chapters on ‘Fibre and Fabrics’ in Classes 6, 7, and 8.

The Class 6 chapter previously contained a reference to Mahatma Gandhi in the context of the charkha, stating, ‘Another hand-operated device for spinning is the charkha. The use of the charkha was popularized by Mahatma Gandhi as part of the Independence movement. He encouraged people to wear clothes made of homespun yarn and avoid imported cloth manufactured in the mills of Britain.'”

Please note that while I have rephrased the content to avoid plagiarism, it is always a good practice to cite the original source if you are using this information in an academic or formal setting.

Another notable omission is the removal of the chapter titled “Why do we fall ill” from the Class 9 Science textbook. Ironically, this chapter specifically introduces students to topics such as viruses and airborne diseases like Covid-19, which were cited as the rationale behind the NCERT’s rationalization exercise.

The updated chapter included a paragraph that highlighted the spread of disease-causing microbes through the air. It explained that these microbes can be transmitted through tiny droplets expelled by an infected person through sneezing or coughing. Individuals in close proximity can inhale these droplets, providing an opportunity for the microbes to initiate a new infection. The paragraph specifically mentioned several diseases transmitted through the air, such as the common cold, coronavirus disease (Covid-19), pneumonia, and tuberculosis.

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