The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has launched two supplementary modules on Operation Sindoor for students in Classes 3 to 12, introduced on August 19, 2025, as part of the 2025-26 curriculum. These modules, titled “Operation Sindoor — A Saga of Valour” (Classes 3–8) and “Operation Sindoor — A Mission of Honour and Bravery” (Classes 9–12), frame the May 7, 2025, military operation as a strategic response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 people, including a Nepali citizen. Designed to instill courage, patriotism, and awareness of India’s defence capabilities, the modules are available on ncert.nic.in and emphasize national unity, technological innovation, and diplomatic success.
What’s in the Modules?
The modules, spanning 8–10 pages, are written in a conversational, Q&A-style format to engage 3.7 million students across India’s schools. They cover the Pahalgam terror attack, executed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, targeting nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Key elements include:
- Military Precision:
- Operation Details: Launched at 1:05 AM, the operation neutralized seven terror camps by the Indian Army and two key hubs (Muridke and Bahawalpur, centers of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed) by the Indian Air Force using Rafale, Su-30MKI jets, BrahMos missiles, drones, and ISRO satellite surveillance.
- No Civilian Casualties: The modules stress that “every target was double-checked” to avoid civilian harm, reinforcing India’s commitment to precision.
- Air Defence: India’s S-400 and Akash systems thwarted Pakistani drones, artillery, and missiles, while the Navy secured the Arabian Sea and the BSF foiled infiltrations.
- Historical Context:
- Links Operation Sindoor to past responses like the 2019 Balakot airstrikes (post-Pulwama, 40 CRPF killed), 2016 Uri surgical strikes, and wars of 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999.
- Notes the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which boosted Jammu and Kashmir’s development but unsettled Pakistan, per ANI reports.
- National Unity:
- Highlights nationwide candlelight marches, with Muslim communities in Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Bhopal wearing black armbands to denounce the attack.
- In Kashmir, shopkeepers shut shops, and locals protested, “breaking stereotypes” and showcasing unity. Border villages rallied behind the Armed Forces.
- Symbolism:
- The name Sindoor honors the widows of victims, symbolizing empathy and respect, as noted by PM Narendra Modi: “A tribute underscoring national courage and compassion.”
- Technology and Diplomacy:
- Showcases Make in India defence systems, including jets, missiles, and satellites, emphasizing self-reliance.
- Notes India’s diplomatic win: persuading the US to designate TRF a foreign terrorist organization in July 2025.
Module Titles:
- Classes 3–8: Operation Sindoor — A Saga of Valour – Focuses on courage, empathy, and the human side, with maps and images of downed drones.
- Classes 9–12: Operation Sindoor — A Mission of Honour and Bravery – Explores strategy, technology, and India’s global role, with detailed strike planning.
Why Introduce Operation Sindoor in Schools?
NCERT’s initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023, aims to educate 3.7 million students on national security, military prowess, and unity. The modules, supplementary to the main curriculum, use a classroom dialogue format to foster critical thinking through discussions and projects.
Key Objectives:
- Inspire Patriotism: Frames Operation Sindoor as “a triumph of bravery, strategy, and innovation,” per ANI, to instill pride in India’s defence capabilities.
- Raise Awareness: Educates students on how India counters terrorism, with PM Modi calling it “a confluence of policy, intent, and decisive capability.”
- Highlight Unity: Showcases national solidarity, with communities across religions and regions uniting against terrorism.
- Promote Technology: Emphasizes India’s S-400, BrahMos, and ISRO surveillance, reinforcing the Make in India initiative.
Controversial Aspects:
- The modules assert Pakistan’s military and political leadership directly ordered the attack, despite Pakistan’s denial, which some X users like @SpencerGuard note could oversimplify geopolitical narratives.
- Critics on X argue for a balanced approach, urging NCERT to encourage critical analysis rather than a singular perspective.
Context and Significance
The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, killed 26 people, targeting tourists in Baisaran Valley to incite fear and unrest. Operation Sindoor, launched 15 days later, was a 22-minute precision strike on May 7, 2025, escalating into a four-day conflict ending with a ceasefire on May 10. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called it a “natural progression” from the 2016 and 2019 strikes, forcing Pakistan to seek peace.
Educational Impact:
- Reaches 3.7 million students across 15,000+ CBSE and state-board schools using NCERT texts.
- Complements other NCERT modules on Partition Horrors, Chandrayaan, and Mission LiFE, reflecting NEP 2020’s focus on national pride and contemporary issues.
- Addresses rising demand for security education, with 60% of parents in a 2024 CBSE survey supporting defence-related curriculum additions.
Broader Context:
- Aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in defence, with Make in India exports reaching ₹21,083 crore in 2024-25.
- Follows controversies like the Kerala textbook error on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, highlighting the need for accurate historical narratives.
Advice for Students, Teachers, and Parents
To maximize the impact of these modules, stakeholders can take these steps:
- Access Modules: Download the modules from ncert.nic.in (available in English and Hindi). Teachers should integrate them into Social Science or EVS projects.
- Encourage Discussion: Use the Q&A format for debates on national security, unity, and technology. Students can create posters or essays on Operation Sindoor’s significance.
- Verify Facts: Cross-check module claims with sources like PIB or DRDO websites to foster critical thinking, especially on Pakistan’s role.
- Explore Defence Careers: Students in Classes 9–12 can research NDA, CDS, or DRDO opportunities, with 1.5 lakh applicants in 2024 NDA exams.
- Stay Updated: Follow @NCERT or @EduMinOfIndia on X for curriculum updates and new module releases.
